Ambush magazine volume 26 issue 13

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the "official" dish

by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain RipandMarsha.COM E-mail: info@ambushmag.com

Gay Appreciation Awards Top 5 Finalists Hail from Baton Rouge, Ft. Lauderdale, Lafayette, New Orleans & Orlando; Savanna DeLorean to Guest Emcee GAA Gala

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he Gulf South readership of Ambush Mag chose their favorites in the 21st annual Gay Appreciation Awards (GAA) in public on-line voting June 3-9. This year Top 5 Finalists hail from Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and New Orleans, Louisiana; and Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando, Florida.

New Orleans celebrity Savanna DeLorean will guest emcee the 21st GAA Gala at Marigny Theatre, 1030 Marigny St., New Orleans, Saturday, July 19. GAA Founder Marcy Marcell and last year's Entertainer of the Year, Princesse Stephaney, are slated to perform. Additionally, all GAA Top 5 Show Bar of the Year Finalists are invited to do a production number for the event.

The award category winners, those receiving the most public votes June 39 (already one of the Top 5 Finalist), will be announced at the gala. Beginning at 8pm sharp, doors will open at 7pm. All proceeds from the event benefit the William Fanning Foundation, better known as Buzzy’s Boys & Girls.

The Top 5 Finalist in the public award voting categories include: Circuit Party/Event of the Year-Big Gay Musical 2/Baton Rouge, Gay Days/ Orlando, Gay Easter Parade/New Orleans, Halloween/New Orleans, Southern Decadence/New Orleans; Hair Salon of the Year-Avallon/Baton Rouge, Bobby Blue/New Orleans, Head Quarters/New Orleans, Mickey Nolan/New Orleans, Salon D'Malta/New Orleans; Gay Carnival Ball of the Year-Krewe of Amon Ra/New Orleans, Krewe of Apollo/Baton Rouge, Krewe of Armeinius/New Orleans, Lords of Leather/New Orleans, Mystic Krewe of Satyricon/New Orleans; Neighborhood Bar of the Year-Cafe Lafitte in Exile/New Orleans, Cowpokes/ New Orleans, Friendly Bar/New Orleans, George's Place/Baton Rouge, Golden Lantern/New Orleans; Buzzy Fanning AIDS Award-Gay Easter Parade/New Orleans, Greg T. Bell AIDS Foundation/Baton Rouge, Michael "Fish" Hickerson/New Orleans, Toby Lefort/New Orleans, NO/AIDS Task Force/New Orleans; Bitch of the Year-Mia Bonet/Baton Rouge, Electra City/New Orleans, Gia/ Baton Rouge, Rusty Laroux/New Orleans, Brittney O'Bryan/New Orleans; Show Bar of the Year-Cowpokes/ New Orleans, Oz/New Orleans, Parade/New Orleans, Splash/Baton Rouge, Starlight By The Park/New Orleans; Performing Arts Award-Glitz/New Orleans, La Femme Rouge/Baton Rouge, Naked Boys Singing/New Or-

Savanna DeLorean, GAA Gala Guest MC Photo: Larry Graham

leans, New Orleans Gay Men's Chorus, To Do Productions-Marigny Theatre/New Orleans; Restaurant/Deli of the Year-Clover Grill/New Orleans, Mestizo's/Baton Rouge, Mona Lisa/New Orleans, Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli/New Orleans, Tomatillo's/New Orleans; Dance Bar of the Year-Cowpokes/ New Orleans, Oz/New Orleans, Parade/New Orleans, Sound Factory/ Lafayette, Splash/Baton Rouge; Bartender of the Year-Aletha Bryant/ Cafe Lafitte in Exile, Stephen Murrell/ Cowpokes, Jeff Palmquist/Cafe Lafitte in Exile, Lance Pippin/Golden Lantern, Lance Young/Splash; DJ of the Year-Karen Baker/Splash, Johnny Love/Cafe Lafitte in Exile, Tim Flueger/Oz, Myke/Cafe Lafitte in Exile,

Richie Rich/Cowpokes, Leather Bar of the Year-Cowpokes/ New Orleans, JohnPaul's/New Orleans, Phoenix/New Orleans, Ramrod/Ft. Lauderdale, Rawhide 2010/New Orleans; GLBT Business of the Year-Alternatives, Hit Parade, Queen Fashions, Rab Dab, Wood Enterprises/all New Orleans; Leather Person of the Year-Mina Hernandez/New Orleans, George Hester/New Orleans, Denny Summors/ New Orleans, Solitaire/Baton Rouge, Gary Vandeventer/New Orleans; Transgender of the Year-Regina Adams/New Orleans, Mia Bonet/Baton Rouge, Dee Cooley/New Orleans, Jasmine SX/Baton Rouge, Marcy Marcell/ New Orleans; Lesbian of the Year-Karen Baker/ Baton Rouge, Marty Curtin/New Orleans, Chansley Dykes/Baton Rouge, Mae Falgout/New Orleans, Mina Hernandez/New Orleans; Gay Man of the Year-Richard Dykes/Baton Rouge, Robert Gibson/ New Orleans, Ken Grandpre/New Orleans, Toby Lefort/New Orleans, Cory Wise/Baton Rouge; and Entertainer of the Year-Elizabeth Bouvier/New Orleans, Electra City/New Orleans, Coca/New Orleans, Nicole Foxx/Baton Rouge, Donnie Jay/New Orleans.

In addition to the various public voting awards, the Board will present the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Cheridon Comedy Award in memory of the late Sonny C. Cleveland, and the Fly Fashion Awards in memory of Ms. Fly including the Fly Fashion Glamour and Fly Fashion Victim awards. The Marsha Delain Award of Excellence (the Drag Ambassador Award) will be presented by Marsha Naquin-Delain.

The awards thanks those in the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender community who are many times not recognized for the outstanding services and efforts they perform. These individuals and businesses have made the GLBT community into the viable, successful and powerful community it is today across the Gulf South.

The Board of Directors includes Lisa Beaumann, Teryl-Lynn Foxx, Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain and Toni J.P. Pizanie.

Ambush is proud to sponsor the

4th of July, Essence Fest Edition Due Out: July 1 DEADLINE: Tues., June 24

inside

AMBUSH/main celebrazzi pride corner/new orleans snap paparazzi/nola snap paparazzi/nola trodding the boards ambush paparazzi/nola, metairie gaa top 5 finalists the pink pastor, sappho psalm one last song, spotlight ambush paparazzi/nola

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chop, chop; cookin' w/auntie dee krewe calendar

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EXPOSE/center red stick paparazzi/baton rouge hot tails, allons acadiana acadiana paparazzi/lafayette pensacola paparazzi classifieds mobile paparazzi, letters in the news

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Gulf South Entertainment/Travel Guide Since 1982 828-A Bourbon St. • New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 • 504.522.8049 info@ambushmag.com

Gay Appreciation Awards each year.

For more info, visit AmbushMag.COM/ GAA.

New Orleans Gay Men’s Chorus Commissions New Musical Revue, HOME

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he New Orleans Gay Men’s Chorus (NOGMC) has commissioned a new musical revue celebrating the music of South Louisiana and the spirit of New Orleans, called HOME. At a time when so many of us are asking questions of what “home” truly is, NOGMC asked its own members and they answered: Our families, our friends, our loves and our communities define our concept of “home.” Deciding to celebrate the comfort and strength of home, NOGMC commissioned HOME, music that speaks and sings of these relationships in our lives and how New Orleans uniquely moulds our vision of them.

Local composer/arranger Chuck [continued on Main-8]

GulfSouthEntertainment/TravelGuideSince 1982 • Texas-Florida OFFICE/SHIPPING ADDRESS: 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 USA OFFICE HOURS: 10am-3pm Monday-Friday [Except Holidays] E-mail: info@ambushmag.com PHONE: 1.504.522.8049 • 1.504.522.8047 ANNUAL READERSHIP: 650,000+ in print/3.5 Million+ On-line NATIONAL CIRCULATION: USA... Alabama-Birmingham, Mobile Florida - Ft. Lauderdale, Pensacola Louisiana - Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Metairie, New Orleans, Shreveport, Slidell Mississippi - Biloxi, Hattiesburg, Jackson Tennessee - Knoxville Texas - Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Galveston, Houston, San Antonio, South Padre Island

STAFF: PUBLISHER/EDITOR R. Rip Naquin-Delain, New Orleans PRODUCTION DIRECTOR M. Marsha Naquin-Delain, New Orleans GULF SOUTH/NEW ORLEANS AD SALES Rip Naquin-Delain • 504.522.8049 LESBIAN/POLITICAL ISSUES Toni J.P. Pizanie, New Orleans THEATRE/PERFORMING ARTS CRITIC Brian Sands, Patrick Shannon AD REPS/JOURNALISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Brad Benedict-Baton Rouge, LA Patrick Clinton-Lafayette, LA Regina Adams, Rev. Clinton Crawshaw, Miss Dee, Donnie Jay, Doug Minich-New Orleans DJ Chromatic, Craig Powell, Leon Weekley-Mobile, AL Roy Williams-Pensacola, FL NATIONAL ADVERTISING REP Rivendell Media~212.242.6863 AMBUSH Mag is published on alternate Tuesdays of each month by Ambush, Inc., R. Rip Naquin-Delain, President. Advertising, Copy & Photo DEADLINE is alternate Tuesdays, 4pm, prior to publication week, accepted via e-mail only: info@ambushmag.com. The Publisher assumes no responsibility for the claims of advertisers and has the right to reject any advertising.

The inclusion of an individual's name or photograph in this publication implies nothing about that individual's sexual orientation. Letters, stories, etc., appearing herein are not necessarily the opinion of the Publisher or Staff of AMBUSH Mag. Subscription rate is $45 for 1/2 Year; $75 for 1 year. Sample Copy is $3 First Class Mail. ©1982-2007, AMBUSH, INC., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NOTHING HEREIN MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER INCLUDING AD LAYOUTS, MAPS and PHOTOS. AMgrant - AMbush Advertising Grant Donation

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celebrazzi (celebrations-paparazzi)

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aven Dubay and Elizabeth Bouvier are presented a birthday cake by Cowpokes Bar Baron Timm Holt (center) at their 2nd annual Birthday Drag Extravaganza in New Orleans. Hosted at GAA Top 5 Dance Bar, Leather Bar, Neighborhood Bar and Show Bar of the Year Finalists, Cowpokes, the event featured guest stars Rhonda Roget and Lauren Brown, along with Disney recording artist Roderick Sanford.

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immy Kilgour, Dudley LeBlanc, artist Pitty Pat and Mac McAll celebrate during the June art opening of A Retrospective by Pitty Pat at Cutter’s in the Marigny neighborhood of New Orleans.

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helsie D’Malta spoke at the Candlelight Vigil in memory of her uncle, Robin Malta, celebrating his life at GAA Top 5 Hair Salon of the Year Finalist Salon D’Malta in New Orleans. Robin was known for his charity work and started the Red Party at Cafe Lafitte in Exile benefiting AIDS charities.

He also raised funds for Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Buzzy’s Boys and Girls, and NO/AIDS Task Force.

Chelsie was one of seven students chosen to participate in the Peace and International Studies program at her university traveling over the Christmas holidays this year to work with families and children affected by AIDS in Uganda. She is dedicating this experience to her Uncle Robin.

The Robin Malta Donation Fund is accepting contributions which will help defray the cost of this trip by the university. Donations can be made at any Capital One location or at Salon D’Malta, 1233 Decatur Street.

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tarlight bartender Toebe brought Jaded Jade, Regina Adams, Starr Daniels, Passion Armani Cassidine and Kelly to the stage for Toebe’s SPCA Suicide Show at GAA Top 5 Show Bar of the Year Finalist Starlight By The Park in New Orleans. The event raised $320 for the SPCA.

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illy’s bartender Tony, C&B Enterprises’ GM John Bowling and Billy’s manager Suzanne Rogers sling cocktails for Billy’s 14th Anniversary celebration in Slidell, Louisiana. In addition to an anniversary buffet on Saturday, patrons were treated to a fab show emceed by Big Mama starring Sherry along with special guests Alexis Daniels from New Orleans, Valerie Colby-Kerrington and Amber Stone from Metairie, and GAA Top 5 Entertainer of the Year Finalist Coca from Oz in New Orleans. The weekend closed out with a Sunday cookout.

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ose sold raffle tickets during Divas Doin’ It For Them selves IX featuring the “men” of GAA Top 5 Performing Arts Award Finalist, New Orleans Gay Men’s Chorus, celebrating an evening of “mascara, music and mayhem” at Marigny Theatre in New Orleans. The chorus donates $500 of the proceeds from this show to sponsor one scholarship in the UNO School of Music.

During the past nine years, $4,500 has been raised for this scholarship program.

The chorus actually sponsored this scholarship since 1992 when it started to rehearse and perform at UNO. Interestingly enough, one of the first recipients of the scholarship briefly served as the chorus’ artistic director many years ago, and one of the others is now singing opera professionally throughout the Southeast, and has appeared with opera companies in New Orleans, Mobile and Pensacola. This year, the chorus also donated $750 of the proceeds to Belle Reve to sponsor and help furnish a room at their new facility.

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the "official" dish ...from Main-4 Effler, who also created NOGMC’s last commissioned work, Pop Musik, worked closely with NOGMC’s Artistic Director, Cedric Bridges, to capture the spirit and musical legacy of New Orleans. Giving nods to such luminaries as Louis Armstrong, Mahalia Jackson and Shirley Verrett, NOGMC pays homage to performers and musical genres iconic of New Orleans. Jazz, blues, gospel and opera (New Orleans had the first designated opera house in the USA) are all brought to the stage in a unique way. There are also a few tongue-in-cheek numbers and a little camp as only NOGMC can do. No one is safe from NOGMC’s wit—suffice it to say, watch out New Orleans cronies, George Bush and, everyone’s favorite, “Attaboy Brownie.”

NOGMC will perform segments of this new work when they take part in the largest gay and lesbian cultural arts event ever held, the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA) Festival VIII in Miami in mid-July 2008. NOGMC will perform in front of many of the 6,200 singers from 132 international choruses and the 15,000 audience members anticipated for this event.

The world premiere of HOME will take place at the Recital Hall of UNO’s Performing Arts Center on June 20 at 8pm and at the Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge on June 21 at 8pm. Tickets may be purchased in advance for $15 through NOGMC’s website at www.nogmc.com, from any NOGMC member or by calling 225.387.4281 for Baton Rouge tickets.

Tickets will also be available for $18 at the door. NOGMC’s newest commissioned work was partially funded by a grant from the Louisiana State Arts Council through the Louisiana Division of the Arts as administered by the Arts Council of New Orleans.

Leatherwoman, American Leatherboy or American Leathergirl may contact Contestant Coordinator Robert Napolitano at RANapolitano@aol.com. Guidelines and applications to compete are available through Napolitano or the ABW website.

ABW is committed to serving the community in which the event takes place. To that end, this year ABW is pleased to dedicate proceeds from its charity silent auction fund-raiser to New Orleans' own NO/ AIDS Task Force. Silent auction items will be up for bid Friday 10am-7pm and again Saturday 9am-12noon. The fund-raising will be capped with a live auction Saturday night at the Phoenix Bar during the block party starting at 10pm.

The event and contest are sponsored in part by the Dallas Eagle, The Lloyd E. Randall Foundation, The Knights of Leather of Minneapolis, The Leather Rack of Washington D.C. and Leather Central of Pittsburgh, as well as by “Friends of ABW.” To become a $50 Friend of ABW, go to www.americanbrotherhood.com and follow the links.

Dean Ogren, Paula Smith & Frank Nowicki bring American Brotherhood Weekend and American Leather Family contest to New Orleans (Photo: Dave Rhodes)

American Brotherhood Weekend Coming to New Orleans in July

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fter a year’s hiatus, American Brotherhood Weekend (ABW) and the American Leather Family contest is retuning to the national leather event landscape on July 11-13, 2008, in New Orleans. The event and contest has been redesigned by producers Dean Ogren and Paula Smith with the aid of a coalition of Leather Family members and close associates, under the auspices of Frank Nowicki. On-line registration can be accessed through www.americanbrotherhood.com. A special rate for event weekend lodging at the Omni Royal Orleans, ABW’s host hotel, also is available through the ABW website.

Producers Ogren and Smith officially announce the slate of judges for the 2008 American Leather Family contest. Accepting their judging posts are “First Lady of Leather” Mary Elizabeth Boyd; “Mr. Marcus” Hernandez, Leather Columnist, Bay Area Reporter; Sarah Humble, American Leatherwoman 1994; Kevin McGraw, First American Leatherboy (1995); Judy Tallwing, First International Ms Leather (1987); Noel J. Twilbeck, Jr., Executive Director for NO/AIDS Task Force; and, Jose Ucles, American Leatherman, 199192.

Those interested in competing for the titles of American Leatherman, American

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pride corner/new orleans

by Ms. Stephanie Lee elcome to June! At the end of this month is the Pride Festival. I hear that everyone is waiting for a party, and a party is

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what everyone is going to get, starting on Friday, June 27 when we begin setting up the park and all the vendors start setting up their booths.

We all like to eat, right? Well a huge

thank you goes out to the vendors that will feed us while we enjoy Pride Festival 2008. We would also like to thank all of the volunteers that will help to put on a suc[continued on Main-14]

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paparazzi

Fleur de Lee welcomed guests in the lobby

Paradise & Slidell Adult Superstore GM Billy & Billy’s Chuck Fanny Pack Amber Stone in from Metairie

GAA Top 5 Entertainer of the Year Finalist Elizabeth Bouvier emceed the affair

Double Play Manager Doc & Billy’s Manager Suzanne

Valerie Colby-Kerrington in from Metairie

Charisma Thumbup

Big Mama headlines as Madonna Raven Dubay Vesta Bule

GAA Top 5 Entertainer of the Year Finalist Coca pops in from Oz

Daughter & Father Team as Sonny & Cher Sherry does “Dark Lady”

Paradise GM Billy celebrates Paradise Manager Jerry’s birthday at Billy’s Anniversary

Alexis Daniels in from New Orleans

GAA Top 5 Bartender of the Year Finalists Jeff Palmquist & Aletha Bryant come in from Cafe Lafitte’s

Nasty Betty & the FEMA Man

Underneather Man

Rose doin’ “Rehab”

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Billy’s 14th Anniversary Blowout ~ Slidell, Louisiana

New Orleans Gay Men Chorus presents Divas Doin’ It For Themselves IX in Marigny Theatre ~ New Orleans

photos: Tom & Jack

snap

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pride corner/new orleans ...from Main-10 cessful festival.

We all know and love our home town performers and this year we have some fantastic local entertainers. We even have a star or two coming from out of town.

Do you want to know more? Come to Washington Square Park on Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29th, enjoy good food and entertainment and hear great music from any place within the park, and even on the parade route.

Yes indeed, we have a PARADE. The parade will roll from the park at Elysian Fields Avenue on Saturday, June 28th at 4:30pm and will be lead by Pride Grand Marshal, Toby Lefort. The parade will consist of a line of floats, buggys, cars, trucks and even some marchers. People from the whole of our community will

march, drive or ride in the parade this year.

The parade is just under two mile’s long and runs through the French Quarter, ending on the North Rampart strip in front of Louis Armstrong Park, making it an easy parade to catch. A map of the parade route is on page Main-10.

Be sure to catch the parade as it pulls off on Saturday at 4:30pm, I’m sure there will be photo ops at every turn. During the parade, stop off at some of the bars along the route, as they are expecting you, and will be serving your favorite cocktails.

After the parade, the party will not yet be over. There will be an after party at Café Lafitte’s in Exile, which will last well into the evening so you can stop in, grab a cocktail, chat for a minute, return to the festival for more fun, art and music and still make it back to Café Lafitte’s before the night is over Now, Sunday is not the same show

redone. Oh but no, this year we have so many entertainers we needed to take up the weekend. As you know PrideFest has changed a lot from years ago, I have been to a lot of meetings and many pride festivals here and “good” says a lot. Come see what I like to call SUPER FANTASTIC! Dress comfortably because you may do a lot of walking, as there is a lot to see, eat and buy in only two days.

Speaking of things to buy, this year we have a Pride poster for the festival. The poster has this year’s theme, Fairies and Dykes on it which is a play on words that describes our city and our community within the city. You can see the poster in the PrideFest page Main-11. There is a limited supply of the posters, so get yours early as they will go quickly.

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Show your pride! Come out and have fun. See you there...

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Entertainer of the Year Princesse Stephaney stars in The Golden Age Revue at JohnPaul’s

Amon Ra’s Miss America Rhonda Roget & Harry in Elizabeth & Raven’s B-day Show at GAA Top 5 Show Bar of the Year Finalist, Cowpokes

Disney recording artist Roderick Sanford live at Elizabeth & Raven’s Bday Extravaganza at GAA Top 5 Show Bar of the Year Finalist, Cowpokes

Legendary Marcy Marcell entertains at Robin Malta’s Candlelight Vigil at GAA Top 5 Hair Salon of the Year Finalist, Salon D’Malta

Jennifer from Razoo’s does Country & Western for Robin Malta’s Candlelight Vigil at GAA Top 5 Hair Salon of the Year Finalist, Salon D’Malta DJ Reed Tribou spins Blush Wednesdays @ Le Phare

Salon D’ Malta stylist Charles Grant speaks at Robin Malta’s Candlelight Vigil

Melissa Marques joins the Golden Age Revue at JohnPaul’s

Michael Mott & Persana get ready for the Shoefty Fashion Show at Le Phare

The Shoefty group poses before their fashion show at Le Phare

Lauren Brown joins Elizabeth & Raven’s B-day Drag Extravaganza

snap paparazzi

The boys model their looks for Shoefty at Le Phare’s Blush Wednesdays

Eva “The Diva” Las Vegas at JohnPaul’s in the Golden Age Revue GAA Top 5 Entertainer of the Year Finalist Elizabeth Bouvier on stage at Cowpokes for her b-day

Raven Dubay celebrates her b-day on stage at GAA Top 5 Show Bar of the Year Finalist, Cowpokes

Chris Wecklein & Becky Allen perform at Robin Malta’s Candlelight Vigil at GAA Top 5 Hair Salon of the Year Finalist, Salon D’Malta

Monica Malta Thurmond spearheaded the tribute to brother Robin Malta with a memorial candlelight vigil at GAA Top 5 Hair Salon of the Year Finalist, Salon D’Malta

The Cutter’s gang: Mac, Blake, Chris & Poncho join in a toast at Robin Malta’s Candlelight Vigil at GAA Top 5 Hair Salon of the Year Finalist, Salon D’Malta

Bradley & Holly join Blush Wednesdays at Le Phare

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Big Easy Entertainment, Birthdays, Celebrations & Fashion Shows ~ New Orleans

The Golden Age Revue’s Regina Adams (GAA Top 5 Transgender of the Year Finalist), Marcy Marcell (GAA Top 5 Transgender of the Year Finalist) & Eva Las Vegas hail from JohnPaul’s

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trodding the boards

by Brian Sands

E-mail: bsnola2@hotmail.com

Story Circle at Ashé Cultural Arts Center

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ith a script by John Grimsley that grew out of community story circles and meetings, Story Circle documented “these attempts to expose, discuss and heal the New Orleans racial divide.” Navigating between the blandness of overgeneralization and the impossibility of telling each and every story, in those it did choose to tell with verisimilitudinous dialog, Story Circle was an involving and worthwhile production.

Director John O’Neal arrayed his cast of eight in a cricle and had Harold X. Evans as the navigator help each to tell his/her story. A toughened cop (Kerry Cahill) dealing with tough kids pulled no punches.

Chris Williams was featured in an affecting tale of a black farmhand who was a victim of terrible racist “justice”. Most devastating was Carol Sutton as a 1950s housekeeper who learned the true nature of her boss and his family.

With a fine cast that also included Troi Bechet, Diana E. H. Shortes, Philip Tracy and Dollie Rivas, Story Circle may not have answered every question it raised but it gave its audiences plentiful material to think about and discuss for days afterward. And when dealing with such a topic, that’s an admirable start.

One Flea Spare at the Convergence Center for the Arts

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aomi Wallace’s One Flea Spare creates a hothouse portrait of four people confined unwillingly in a 17th century London home amidst the terror that the bubonic plague brought to that city. While a compelling portrait of desperate lives, the psychosexual frisson that layered the first act goes overboard in the second while alternately Wallace tends to be a bit didactic vis a vis the relationships of the “rich” vs. the “poor”.

Still, Andrew Vaught brought an intelligent direction to the play. He got its rhythms right and guided his cast to emotionally truthful performances. BUT, as anyone in theater knows, casting is at least 85% of a play’s success and here Vaught faltered.

As Darcy, the lady of the house, Mishikea Braithwaite’s expressive eyes and dazzling presence were undermined

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by her rather flat line readings. And while she infused Darcy with repressed, regal beauty, she seemed too young for the role which unbalanced some of the script’s sexual tensions.

Playing a slightly unhinged 12-yearold who may or may not be a daughter of a nobleman, Emilie Whelan made fine use of her dramatic voice but still struck me as too old for this cunning little vixen. As a sailor and coal miner who’s smarter than he looks, Blake Baudier too often mumbled and lacked that certain je ne c’est quoi that would have made him a more believable boy toy for Darcy and her husband.

As that husband Snellgrave, Charles Vaught simply does not have the natural bearing of a nobleman and revealed little of the character’s inner life; I wonder what an Ian McKellan or Patrick Stewart would do with the role. Only Ron Reeder, as the unscrupulous guard of the house, going between tortuous glee and existential awareness, gave a fully rounded performance.

Despite these reservations, I admired this brave cast for doing this intimate play with a full commitment to its challenges.

And while I might question the Cripple Creek Theater Company’s decision to present this somewhat flawed drama, it held my attention throughout.

The Taming of the Shrew at Tulane University

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came out of the first act of The Shakespeare Festival’s recent production of The Taming of the Shrew enjoying its physicality, clear cut direction and joie de vivre. Yet its second act never delivered the fully multilayered fizz that had been promised and I went home, sadly, unsatisfied.

What happened? Despite a cast of pros in all the featured roles, this Shrew lacked an authoritative tamer. As Petruchio, Lorenzo Gonzalez evinced superficiality and cartoonishness where a virile masculinity is called for. This broadness was fine enough when Petruchio was wooing Kate and was supposed to be somewhat of a dissembler. But by continuing in this mode, we lost the darker trappings of their relationship that leads to a deeper understanding of the play. By the end, Gonzalez was more Ricky Riccardo than Alfred Lunt.

Forced to play opposite this, Rebecca Frank who, in the first act, simultaneously revealed a subtle satisfaction that she had found her match and, amazingly, someone who responds to her, was reduced to caterwauling in the big taming scene. I’m not sure whether to blame her or directors Ron Gural & Jim Fitzmorris for their Katharina displaying too much energy for someone who’s been starved and kept from sleeping, but it robbed this generally foolproof scene of its impact.

The directors’ decision to reset the play in 1950s New Orleans allowed the designers (David Raphel—scenery, Elizabeth Parent—costumes, Nick Frederick— sound) to have fun though it didn’t really add to a deeper understanding of the text.

Playing assorted suitors, parents and servants, Martin Covert, Randy Maggiore, Matthew Mickal, Sean Patterson, George J. Sanchez and Michael Aaron Santos all gave beautifully calibrated performances with a special nod to Morrey McElroy for doing five different roles so well. Sophie Amoss and David Rudolph-Mayhem Davis (whatta name!) brought the proper piquancy and innocence, respectively, to the young lovers Bianca and Lucentio.

For something set in mid-century Vieux Carre, I just wish this Shrew had been a little less I Love Lucy and a little more Streetcar Named Desire. Or something like that.

A Kingdom of Statues at Muriel’s Cabaret Theatre at Le Petit; Between You and Me at The Marigny Theater

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wo recent productions had a number of things in common — original scripts by young local writers each of whom ought to learn that “less is more”.

James Bartelle’s A Kingdom of Statues was a pun-&-bad-joke-filled onceupon-a-timer in the mode of Jay Ward’s Fractured Fairy Tales. While the intention was to gear it to both kids and their parents, I could see why Bartelle had commented to me that the adults were seeming to enjoy it more than the kids.

With lines like “[I am] cursed to kill that which I love the most” Kingdom seemed to be a bit too sophisticated for the young’uns with not enough compensating pleasures. One could say it went on too long but the bigger problem was that too much of the material was either repetitious or extraneous to the main story (a riff on Hey Jude seemed endless). Some of the children in the audience were visibly fidgety.

Still there was lots of fun stuff particularly the evil folks—the witch Grazelda and her two dim-witted sons—because, well, the bad guys generally are more fun than the good and their scenes were shorter and shaper.

Among the cast, as Prince Jude (hence the Hey Jude riff), A.J. Allegra with his rubbery face was properly cartoony in a Warner Brothers way. Playing those foam-brained sons, James Yeargain and Richard Alexander Pomes gave full life to Andrew Larimer’s cutely evil puppets solely with their voices. The show’s standout, however, was Sean Glazebrook who, in addition to delivering lines like “I’m going to meet my destiny, child” with virtuoso comic timing, brought depth and a fierce emotionalism to Grazelda.

I hope Bartelle continues to pare and polish A Kingdom of Statues as it has the potential to be a children’s theater perennial around the country. And we could say that we saw it here first.

Between You and Me by writer/director Dui Jarrod has an interesting story to tell involving schisms in the black community and familial responsibility. But like many other young playwrights, Jarrod made the mistake of telling rather than showing; what should’ve been a big scene involving the first meeting of long separated brothers occurs during intermission. By the end of the performance, an audience feels like it’s been preached at for nearly three hours rather than having gotten to know the characters organically.

Also, as Between You and Me be-

comes increasingly serious, Jarrod has not yet mastered the ability to genre shift smoothly and so we feel like we’ve abruptly changed the channels from a sitcom to a soap opera. It’s telling that the most character revealing line in the play is the simple question “Is this gift-wrapping [paper]?”

Jarrod is a fine actor with a sure comic sense but should have engaged someone else to direct him in his own work; lacking an objective eye, too many scenes were static and visually dull. The rest of the cast was fine—Ken Brown, low-keyed, real and even touching; Stacye Markey who knew how to take advantage of some of the best material with a wry and warm performance; Joan C. Spraggins who, with deep-seated conviction, overcame a role that asked her to go from imperial queen bitch to martyr in the blink of an eyelash; and Courtney Reane who, despite this being her theatrical debut and having the thinnest material to work with, managed to hold her own with her more seasoned colleagues.

Between You and Me is scheduled for a performance later this year in Arkansas. Like Bartelle, I hope Jarrod continues to work on his script and fulfill the potential that is already manifest.

Beautiful Bastards at La Nuit Theater

B

eautiful Bastards posed the earth-shattering question “What do you do with a pregnant prostitute?” and went downhill from there. According to the notes I made while enduring this fractured history lesson, Bastards was “inept”, “imbecilic like most of its characters”, and “confusing” like when a character pulls out a shiny red apple despite everyone talking about how they’ve been starving.

This is a play about the founding of New Orleans in which the putative French characters consistently refer to our city as “nouvelle orleans” instead of the proper “la nouvelle orleans”. Yes, I laughed occasionally but by the second act I was laughing at Beautiful Bastards rather than with it. And let’s not forget the douchebag jokes.

Lovely.

Actually, the more I thought about it, the more I came to the conclusion that the fault lay less with Bud Faust’s faux Monty Python script than in Julie Faust’s execrable direction or, rather, non-direction.

When a production is this misguided and so bereft of a consistent comic tone that prevents so many jokes from paying off in the way they were meant to, it can only be due to the director. I don’t know if Mrs. Faust threatened Mr. Faust with no sex unless he let her direct but Garson Kanin & Ruth Gordon, or even Julian Beck & Judith Malina, they’re not.

At least the two leads, Ladson Poole as Bienville and Andrew Lemonier as his aide-de-camp Hugo, were quite good despite the wretched material with Lemonier taking on the Eric Idle role to Poole’s John Cleese-ish behaviour. Sadly, Bryan Reilly, so wonderful as Cosmo Brown in Singin’ in the Rain, was wasted and the rest of the cast was strictly amateurish. Wearing little more than a loincloth, Paul Lemonier as the young Indian brave Uxsu (don’t ask) reminded me of one of those pretty if dissolute young things in a Larry Clark or Nan Goldin photo; at least whenever he was on stage, Beautiful Bastards had me enthralled.

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ambush

paparazzi

Good Friends Manager Joey with new bartender Matt

DJ Karbin hails from GAA Top 5 Leather Bar of the Year Finalist, Phoenix

Spaghetti Os Wrestling Champ Chris & Josh behind the bar at Good Friends

GAA Top 5 GLBT Business of the Year Finalist, Wood Enterprises’ Gary & GAA Top 5 DJ of the Year Finalist, Johnny Love, at Lafitte’s

Lafitte’s bartender Matt always ready to entertain

GAA Top 5 GLBT Business of the Year Finalist, Rab Dab’s Dave & Marshall at Oz

Club Tribute’s alley to the dance floor in Metairie

Bar Baron Orlando & Mwindo’s Larry out at Society Page Randy slings cocktails at GAA Top 5 Leather Bar of the Year Finalist, Phoenix

GAA Top 5 Man of the Year Finalist & SD Parade Lt. Ken, SDGM XXXV Paloma & Marsha at GAA Top 5 Neighborhood Bar of the Year Finalist, Lafitte’s

Bartenders Trenton & Bill from GAA Top 5 Neighborhood Bar of the Year Finalist, Cowpokes

Willamena hails from GAA Top 5 Neighborhood Bar of the Year Finalist, Golden Lantern

Bartender John from GAA Top 5 Leather Bar of the Year Finalist, JohnPaul’s

Miss MASCARa Beaumont & Manager Corey behind the bar at GAA Top 5 Neighborhood Bar of the Year Finalist, Cafe Lafitte in Exile

GAA Top 5 DJ of the Year Finalist, Myke, doin’ the honors at Cafe Lafitte in Exile

Bianca Del Rio flys in Sundays in June to do Drag Dingo with Blanche Debris at GAA Top 5 Dance Bar & Show Bar of the Year Finalist, Oz

GAA Top 5 Gay Carnival Ball of the Year Finalist, Amon Ra’s Ronnie & David at Oz

Gregory slingin’ cocktails at Society Page

Bartender Don hails from Ninth Circle

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Cocktailin’ in The Crescent City ~ New Orleans, Metairie

James & Bywater Bar.B.Que’s Mike out at GAA Top 5 Dance Bar of the Year Finalist Cowpokes

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the pink pastor

by Rev. Clinton Crawshaw, 504.214.4340 E-mail: pastor@bigeasymcc.com www.bigeasymcc.com www.thebigeasymccblog.blogspot.com

Pride for the humble.

I

had a real ‘Aaaaah!’ moment on Sunday – just as I was preparing for church a little boy walked past the entrance to the sanctuary with his mother - he was only about four or five. Ken, one of our musicians was playing from within, and the sound echoed around the grand interior of the church and drifted to us outside. As God is my witness, the little boy turned to his mother and said ‘Is that heaven?’, ‘No dear’ she said.

Well you can imagine that every pastor’s eyes fill with tears at the thought of anyone - even a five year old - mistaking their church for paradise, but it got me thinking – ‘Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou didst prepare praise’, so says Matthew 21:16.

I wrote last time about ‘real church’ and the need for our community to accept our strengths as well as tackle our weakness – this is not pride like I may be proud if I owned a Rolls Royce, this is acceptance of reality, and giving thanks for the blessings that we receive. Gay pride is accepting that we are not merely a group of dissolute old lushes, defined by our briefest sexual encounters and drunken nights out; we are a talented, richly blessed and complex people – various and diverse in ourselves who have infinitely enriched the wider society

sappho psalm

by Toni J.P. Pizanie E-mail: Psalmwrite@aol.com

AIDS Memorial

Bon Appetit 2008

t was 1996 when friends and supporters of AIDS patients gathered to form the committee to erect a monument to the loved ones lost to AIDS. Susan Levingston and Jack Sullivan are heading a newly formed New Orleans AIDS Monument Committee to have this long awaited dream become a reality. The hope and plan is that the monument will be completed by World AIDS Day 2008.

The original site of the monument at the end of Esplanade Avenue at the River has been abandoned. The new site will be in Washington Square Park, the home of Gay Pride.

Although the art work was said to have been completed years ago and was only waiting on money for installation, additions are being made. Donations are being solicited for stones, benches and a dedication plaque.

If you wish to donate or want to have a stone with a loved ones name installed as part of the monument, call Susan Levingston at 504.443.3090 or Atty. Jack Sullivan at 504.524.14721. Through Susan or Jack, you can get information on activities, schedule or make a donation.

This is an important part of our culture. We should honor and remember our past. It took an executive order from the mayor of New Orleans back in the 1980s for us to use Washington Square Park as a festival gathering place. Now this park will boast not only Gay Pride Fest but also the AIDS Memorial. This is a fitting endeavor that we should all support and rejoice in having.

he date of this fund-raiser has fallen between the deadline date and the distribution date so I cannot at present give you details of the dinner. I am looking forward to enjoying the second year of this (another) worthy event.

When it comes to helping our AIDS community, New Orleans has always been a leader. Lazarus House is an important part of our larger community. I know that this year will be another success.

Of course, the highlight of the evening is not really the dinner. It is the After Party in the home of Jim Mounger. Jim makes available for Lazarus patrons an endless fountain of champagne and covers every flat surface with trays of delicious decadence – most of which is chocolate layered with whipped cream and finely chopped nuts. I write from experience as a registered Diabetic whose blood sugar shot up to nearly 400 last year before I stopped enjoying the numerous treats. I do hope I will be well enough to write by next issue so I can share any interesting details.

I

T

A Letter From Tittie To All Lesbians

I

received a letter from this year’s Southern Decadence Grand Marshal Tittie Toulouse, Gary of Queen Fashions. She (he) is inviting all Lesbians to take part in the 2008 Souther Decadence weekend.

This is Tittie's message. I thought you would enjoy reading in full how the Grand Marshals feel about the Lesbian community.

in which we live.

Gay Pride is about righting the wrongs of the past with positive truths about the past, present and future. Gay pride is about loving ourselves even as we are loved by God, and feeling the comfort and security that comes from being loved and adored by the God that created us.

Familiarity breeds contempt so they say – we live amongst ourselves and take our talents for granted – we are more used to listening to people telling us what our shortcomings are than counting our blessings. New Orlenians are a bit like that – I have hosted visitors who have traveled all over the world and rave about New Orleans. My own parents are artists and broadcasters, and have shot TV shows about painting all over the world, and when they came here a few weeks ago and I drove them down Magazine Street and around the Quarter and the Marigny they said that as artists, the only place that had compared for sheer richness of subject and interest was Venice!! It is always a useful exercise when Gay pride is approaching to google a list of GLBT historical figures, and try and imagine what the world would have looked like without them.

There would be no St Peter’s in Rome, no Westside Story, no Mona Lisa, no Nutcracker or Pathetique, no Streetcar named Desire, no ‘Go tell it on the moun-

tain’, no Barber’s ‘Adagio’, no Macedonian Empire, no Spartan army, no Little Mermaid and no The Snow Queen, no Hadrian’s wall, no King James Bible (yes, King James was a queen!), no Bloomsbury Group, no ‘Importance of being Earnest’, no programmable computers (Alan Turing, British code breaker during World War II) and of course, very few clergy in almost any denomination!

I know this list is heavily skewed toward gay men, but unfortunately history has been skewed against women – and it is only now we can begin to write both sexes fully into our LGBT history line. Of course I am reminded of the little boy in church – he would I am sure see us as a community very differently than we often see ourselves, he would see the good and the bad unpolluted by prejudice and fear. He would see a kind and loving people, filled with creativity and talent.

Children are still seeing the world with the remnants of God’s vision; they have not yet learned to fully replace the glory of creation with mortgages and misogyny and promotions and prejudice; that little boy on Sunday looked through the door and felt and glimpsed the presence of God, and said in all innocence,’ Is that heaven?’ If only I had had the chance to speak to the child and tell him ‘It is a foretaste of it’.

“I am writing to you as someone who I look up to as the voice of the lesbian community in New Orleans to make a request. I, as well as my co-grand marshal, agree that this celebration is all encompassing in our community and we would love to see more women of the gay community here participate with us this year. Please remind your friends that this is not only for gay men. We want as many people in our community here tied into the event in every way possible, from the party events to the parade itself. I do hope you will pass this on as we are all one here, especially since our city has suffered so much recently. We want to be out in force on Labor Day weekend to show everyone that we are a strong, invincible community.”

I’ve enjoyed Southern Decadence from the Ambush Balcony for several years, and it is a hoot – not to be missed by anyone. Tittie is right, Southern Decadence is for the entire community and that includes all Lesbians. This event is more fun that Mardi Gras and just for the GLBT Community.

the goals of the Conference to be held September 4th through 7th. Dismantling Christian supremacy and the harm it has caused to other faiths and individuals is key.

Lisa is Jewish and Muslim, a stormy combination, and perfect to help us understand the needs of other cultures. She also spoke on the importance of changing the racial and cultural differences within the Christian community. With your help, we will be removing old beliefs that damage and separate Christians. Welcoming change, like inclusion, is a priority for the Conference. Please join us to implement change and the strengthening of faith. The Conference is open to all people of faith and spirituality.

Community Information Krewe du la Lune – a new walking Krewe for lesbians, bisexual, trans, and gay friendly girls is forming. Learn more at http://www.myspace.com/ krewe_du_la_lune Out & About - An open LGBT social group, recently held an organizational meeting. The group plans to hold weekly activities that include movie outings, cards, theater, hiking, and other activities. For more info: Crystal, 504.945.1103.

Many Stories, One Voice

T

he local host committee has had another meeting with personnel from The National Lesbian and Gay Task Force. We met with Lisa Weiner-Mahfuz from D. C. She is the Capacity Building Project Director.

The aim this meeting was to identify

Prayers and Good Wishes

T

wo of our community heroes are facing serious surgical procedures this month. I am asking all people of faith to send up good thoughts for Dr. Joe Melcher, the force behind the PFLAG Scholarship Program and professor at Xavier University, and Randy Trahan, an active member and supporter of PFLAG, Project Lazarus, NO/ AIDS Task Force and more.

I have had the honor and joy of knowing these two men for several years. When I learned that they were facing surgery on the same day, I thought my heart was breaking. If you know these wonderful men, please remember them in your prayers and be there to help them through this difficult time.

And Now For Something Completely Different

J

ust a note to let you know that I was not satisfied with the French Open men’s final. I am still a diehard Federer fan, and look forward to July when Rodger will find his game on the lawns of Wimbledon and send the Span[continued on Main-24]

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one last song

by Donnie "Jager" Jay, SDGM XXXII E-mail: donniejay@hotmail.com

Hillary's Farewell

L

ike many people I know I sat and watched the inevitable as Obama went over the top in the delegate numbers he needed to win the Democratic nomination to be our presidential candidate. Now I know that my political affiliation should not come as any surprise to my friends or readers for that matter, as a point in fact I do have many Log Cabin members that I count as my dear friends. Except for their political views I do have a lot in common with them. That stated I shall continue.

Hillary Clinton’s bid to become the first serious woman candidate for President was a most historic event, as was Barrack Obama’s to be the first African-American, facts of which I am so proud that I have lived long enough to see their dreams become a reality. It has been a long hard fight for both of them and at times not very civil. Their campaigns accusing each other at one time or another of playing the race card or the opposite, exploiting things that neither candidate really had much control over. Obama’s preacher’s words and President Clinton, somewhat erratic statements, to which neither candidate was present at the time they were made, but seized upon by their campaign coordinator. Should Obama disassociate himself from his church the day they were said? Looking back it would have been best. Should Hillary have muzzled Bill, maybe so, though I hardly think it would have shut him up in any way? But the thing to realize here is that the people behind both Hillary and Obama were only working to keep

spotlight

their candidate in the forefront and discredit the other one. Perhaps a stellar quality to their way of thinking but to the public it came off as harassment.

It looked as if there would be no way to repair the damage that was being done, has there truly? Perhaps we will never really know, but the second most historic event that came out of this, will be the speech Ms. Clinton gave when ceding the nomination to Mr. Obama on Saturday, June 7th. In front of a multitude of supporters, she threw her support behind the nominee and asked that they do the same for the sake of the party and defeat Senator McCain, the presumptive Republican candidate. Who the more he talks sounds as if he would just continue down the path George Bush has led us on with dire results.

And how are Republican senators reacting to gas prices running well over four dollars a gallon and with windfall profits for the oil companies are soaring? Why just yesterday, the big oil companies dodged an attempt to slap them with a windfall tax profits tax and take away billions of dollars in tax breaks thanks to the GOP senators who shoved aside the Democratic proposal saying it would do nothing to lower prices.

In ceding to Barrack, Hillary did not release her convention delegates however, holding them exactly for what reason? For clout at the convention one supposes? Yes. After all it is important to remember that she had over fourteen million supporters, not a small amount by any measure, but one which guarantees her a voice in setting the platform. After all that amount of people definitely have a right to see their agenda on the ballot. It also should be noted here that many of them have said they would rather throw their support McCain's way than Obama’s, which is very disheartening.

Could this mean that the idea of a dream team is still alive? That a Barrack/Hillary ticket may still be possible? Hillary has said that she is open to the possibility of such. But one wonders what would be the benefits and the drawbacks of such a merger? To me it would be perfection personified, but then I’m just one voter, one voice, but just stop and think how one voice can change the world.

In the benefit column, women would more than likely stand with Hillary because as the sun was setting on her campaign, wounded feminists vowed to write in Hillary’s name on their ballots in November; to wear Obama t-shirts all summer; to deregister as Democrats.

This would be catastrophic for the party and almost assure a shoo in for McCain. One e-mail that has been circulating on the web went so far as to suggest turning June third, the day Barrack seized the

nomination, as a permanent day of mournful remembrance “like the people of Ireland remember the Famine.”

“The passion is very intense,” said Muriel Fox, a founding member of NOW. “It’s very much a feeling that Hillary has not been respected.” “She’s stayed in and showed she could take it. I feel she’s taken this beating for us, the abuse, the battering and the insults,” Fox added. I say she did indeed, but not just for women, but for all of us and she put up one hell of a fight.

In response to the feminist that feel this way the question I want to put to them is, “Would you like to continue King George’s policies, because if you do as planned and deregister as Democrats, it seems to me that you would only be helping to elect the same with McCain.” Because another block of voters we may not be able to count on and hold even if the dream team becomes a reality, is the older white male vote and particularly in the Southern states, where like it or not, racism still rears it’s ugly head. I don’t think Bubba would vote for Obama without Hillary being on the ticket, and her being there really doesn’t guarantee it.

The cons associated with my dream team are of course many.

First of all there is Bill Clinton, who most certainly would have his hand in as much as possible and with Obama stressing change and heading in a new direction, this may be seen as many folks as being just going back to the same old same old. Fact is he could be used for advantage because he is experienced in foreign affairs, no pun intended, something Obama is seriously lacking.

Secondly, many of Barracks supporters are not at all thrilled with the Clintons, but I doubt that they would abandon him.

He registered more African-Americans than ever before in the history of American politics, and we know they stand strong and proud behind him, as they should.

The younger people however, who also flocked to him maybe an unsettling [continued on Main-25]

Bar Barons Mike Cookmeyer and Matt Giglio are getting ready for 700 Club’s Grand Opening June 17th.

The celebration runs from 8-10pm with complimentary cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. New Orleans newest nightspot is located at 700 Burgundy, corner of St. Peter Street, open daily 12noon till.

sappho psalm ...from Main-22 iard packing. I’ve been very quiet about tennis so far this year. The Bayou Tennis Club has taken me off their mailing list so I have no local news. Even All My Children is featuring tennis as a drama between competing actors.

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one last song ...from Main-24 factor here; they have never voted in a general election before; they really have no record of how they may be taken with the coming election. Were they just caught up in the exciting moment of the idea of change or were they truly interested in the future direction of our country?

I truly expect Hillary Clinton to be on Barrack Obama’s short list for she certainly has earned it and by ceding to him at the best possible moment I feel she would be a tremendous asset. What would we have to look forward to from the two of them: The end of the Iraq war; affordable health care for all Americans; education reform; and most importantly of all Equal-

ity, for everyone, at last.

You may contact donniejay@hotmail.com.

me

at

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SDGM XXXV Gary Delaune (aka Tittie Toulouse) & Bar Baron Micheal Elias at The Corner Pocket Jaded Jade dazzles ‘em at GAA Top 5 Show Bar of the Year Finalist, Starlight By The Park

Joel dances in Corner Pocket’s Calendar Boy Contest

GAA Top 5 Transgender of the Year Finalist Regina Adams hails from GAA Top 5 Show Bar of the Year Finalist, Starlight By The Park

Miss Ho Amanda Straddle joins Elizabeth & Raven’s 2nd annual Birthday Drag Extravaganza at Cowpokes

Bartender Kevin gettin’ in shape behind the bar at GAA Top 5 Leather Bar of the Year Finalist, Phoenix Aaron dancing at Thursday’s Calendar Boy Contest at The Corner Pocket

Calendar Boy Contestant Chase on the bar at The Corner Pocket

GAA Top 5 Bitch of the Year Finalist, Rusty LaRoux, headlines The Zoo Revue at Big Daddy’s

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Nightlife ~ New Orleans

Miss Gay Pride ’07 Passion Armani Cassidine stars at GAA Top 5 Show Bar of the Year Finalist, Starlight

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chop chop

by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain www.ripandmarsha.com E-mail: info@ambushmag.com

New Orleans Restaurant Guide Buffa's, 1001 Esplanade at Burgundy, serves breakfast 8am4pm daily featuring homemade biscuits and sausage gravy, and real hash browns along with bacon, sausage, ham, eggs or omelettes.

Lunch and dinner is also available here. Call 949.0038 for info.

Bywater Bar.B.Que, 3162 Dauphine St., is noted for its gumbo, barbeque, pizza, sandwiches and specials. Hours are 11am-9pm Mon.-Fri., and 9am-9pm Sat. & Sun. Closed Wed. Call 944.4445 for additional info. MasterCard/Visa accepted.

Cafe Amelie, 912 Royal St., offers romantic courtyard or indoor dining along with both eclectic culinary creations and drinks. Serving lunch and dinner, Wed.-Sun. 11am-9pm, Sat. breakfast 10am-3pm and Sun., brunch 10am-3pm. Call 412.8965 for reservations or additional information.

Clover Grill, 900 Bourbon St., is open 7 days and features breakfast including build your own omelettes. But let’s not forget their fab burgers grilled right under a hub cap and then there’s all those sandwiches, sides, desserts and shakes. Call 598.1010 or visit CloverGrill.COM. Country Club Restaurant, 634 Louisa St. Under the direction of new Chef Miles Prescott, you will find delightful menus offering French bistro cuisine including appetizers, soups, flatbreads, salads, sandwiches, wraps, entrees and desserts. Serving Monday, Wednesday & Thursday 11am–10pm, Friday & Saturday 11am– 12midnight, Sunday 10am–10pm, Sunday Brunch 10am–3pm, closed Tuesday. Call 945.0742 for additional information or visit TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM. Krystal, 116 Bourbon at Canal, Open 24 hours, it's one of the best stops for fast food with tasty burgers, hot dogs and breakfast.

Call 523.4030 for more info.Magazine Perks, 4332 Magazine, serves gourmet coffee, sandwiches, pastries, danish and cakes.

Open 7 days 7am-10pm. Call 899.2911 or visit MagazinePerks.COM. Marigny Perks, 2401 Burgundy, serves gourmet coffee, sandwiches, pastries, danish and cakes. Open 7 days 7am-10pm.

Call 948.7401 or visit www.marignyperks.com.

Meauxbar Bistro, 942 N. Rampart St., serves classic contemporary bistro fare in the Quarter on the edge. Serving dinner and drinks Tues.-Sat, 6-10pm. Call 569.9979 for reservations or information.

Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212 Royal St., features Italian specialties including salads, pizzas, sandwiches and both lunch and dinner entrees. Lunch 11am-5pm Thurs.-Mon., Dinner 5pm-10pm 7 days. Call 522.6746 for info.

Petunias, A Restaurant, 817 St. Louis, is open daily 8am10pm serving breakfast, brunch, lunch, crepes, po-boys, salads, gumbo, Cajun/Creole specialties and dinner. Call 522.6440 for more info.

Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, 1100 Bourbon St., was voted Restaurant/Deli of the Year once again and is open 24 hours 7 days. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, the deli offers free delivery. Call 529.1416 to order.

Riche, Fulton Street at Poydras inside Harrah's Hotel, brings Chef Todd English with his one and only French brasserie-style restaurant to the city. Just steps from the Convention Center and Harrah's Casino, call 533.6117 for reservations and information.

Tomatillo's Restaurant, 437 Esplanade Ave., is open Tues., Wed. 11am-10pm; Thurs.-Sun. 11am-11pm. The restaurant refers to itself as "A Mexican Joint" featuring appetizers, soups, salads, make your own combination plates, house specialties, burritos, desserts, and of course, specialty margaritas. Call 945.9997 for reservations.

cookin' with auntie dee

by Donnie Jay E-mail: auntiedeej@hotmail.com Photo©GrahamStudioOne.COM

Spread 'Em

A

ll right, all right I know that it sounds sexual, but you know that is not the way I meant for the title of these recipes to come off. However I just didn’t change it because I kind of like the implications that it carries, and who knows, your guest or guests may be blown over by the recipes that they may just offer to spread ‘em. So here goes.

Last time out we covered some great summertime dips, this week we are going to offer cool refreshing things to spread on crackers. Baguettes and such, so here they are, some of my very favorite ones.

CHICKEN LIVER PATE 2 green onions, chopped 2 pounds chicken livers ¼ cup butter, melted 2/3 cup brandy ½ cup whipping cream ¾ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon ground allspice ¼ teaspoon ground pepper pinch of ground thyme Cook minced green onions and livers in ¼ cup butter in a large skillet over medium heat until livers are done. Process mixture in the container of an electric blender or a food processor. Place brandy in a saucepan over medium-low heat, reduce by half. Add brandy, whipping cream and seasonings to liver mixture; processing until smooth, stopping once to scrape down sides. Spoon pate into a lightly oiled five cup mold. Chill at least three hours. Unmold and decorate if desired. Yield: five cups

SHERRY CHEESE PATE 2 (3 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

¼ cup dry sherry ½ teaspoon curry powder ½ cup chutney 2 green onions, thinly sliced Combine the first four ingredients; spread into a one inch thick circle on a serving plate. Cover and chill. Just before serving; spread chutney over cheese, and sprinkle with green onions. Serve with assorted crackers. Yield: two cups

ROSEMARY DATE-NUT BALL 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened 1 (10 ounce) package chopped dates 1 cup pecans, toasted and divided 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary Combine cream cheese, dates, ½ cup pecans, and rosemary; cover and chill thirty minutes. Shape into a ball; roll in remaining ½ cup pecans. Serve with apple wedges or ginger snaps. Yield: 2 ¼ cups

SHRIMP BUTTER 1 pound peeled and cooked shrimp 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened ¼ cup chopped chives ½ cup butter, softened 2 tablespoons grated onion 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon chili sauce 2 garlic cloves, cut in half ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon hot sauce Process shrimp in a food processor until coarsely ground. Add cream cheese and remaining ingredients; process until [continued on Main-31]

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carnival/krewe calendar SUN., June 22nd... ~6:30pm, The Homo Depot: Den Night Armeinius, fund-raiser to repair the krewe's den, Hors d'Oeurvres & Cocktails followed by 8pm show featuring Bianca Del Rio and Blanche Debris along with Homo Depot Girls, Mary Maids & others, $40 donation, Tickets 504.756.8343, 435 N. Broad & St. Louis SAT., June 28th... ~8-10:30pm, Krewe of Amon Ra Prom Night, JohnPaul's, 940 Elysian Fields FRI., July 11th... ~6-10pm, Krewe of Mwindo Second Friday Fish Fry, Krewe Den, 5902 Alost St. SUN., July 13th... ~3-7pm, Lords of Leather Luau, Lions Inn FRI., August 8th... ~6-10pm, Krewe of Mwindo Second Friday Fish Fry, Krewe Den, 5902 Alost St. SAT., August 16th... ~7pm, Krewe of Petronius' Dinner and

cookin' w/auntie dee ...from M-28 smooth. Remove to serving dish. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Serve with baguette slices. Yield: four cups

CURRIED CHICKEN PATE

Drag, Progressive Dinner and Drag Show, $30donation, JohnPaul's, 940 Elysian Fields FRI., August 29th... ~10pm-2am, Lords of Leather & Phoenix present Southern Decadence Leather Block Party, 941 Elysian Fields SAT., September 6th... ~8pm, Krewe of Mwindo & In This Together present FISH, Bubbles and Balloons, Laborers Union Hall FRI., September 12th... ~6-10pm, Krewe of Mwindo Second Friday Fish Fry, Krewe Den, 5902 Alost St. SAT., September 20th... ~Lords of Leather Miss Louisiana Leatherette Contest, JohnPaul's, 940 Elysian Fields SAT., October 4th... ~Krewe of Mwindo JSU-SU Football Trip to Jackson, MS FRI., October 10th... ~6-10pm, Krewe of Mwindo Second Friday Fish Fry, Krewe Den, 5902 Alost St. FRI., October 17th... ~Lords of Leather Mr, Louisiana Leather Bear Bust, Phoenix, 941 Elysian Fields SAT., October 18th... ~Lords of Leather Mr. Louisiana Leather Contest, Marigny Theatre, 1030 Marigny St. SAT., October 19th... ~1-4pm, Lords of Leather Mr. Louisiana Leather Celebration Brunch, JohnPaul's, 940 Elysian Fields

2 cups chopped cooked chicken breast 1 small granny smith apple, peeled, cored and quartered 1 large shallot, quartered ½ cup butter, softened ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon curry powder Process first three ingredients in a food processor until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides. Add butter and remaining ingredients, process until smooth. Line a 6 x 3 loaf pan with plastic wrap and spray with cooking spray. Spoon in the pate and chill for eight hours. Serve with Melba rounds or crackers. Yield: three cups

FRI., November 14th... ~6-10pm, Krewe of Mwindo Second Friday Fish Fry, Krewe Den, 5902 Alost St. SAT., November 22nd... ~7pm, Krewe of Petronius' QBSN(Queer Bar Shopping Network), Live Wreath Auction, Buy Me Now Specials and Holiday Show, JohnPaul's, 940 Elysian Fields SAT., November 29th... ~8pm, Lords of Leather American Bandstand 2008, JohnPaul's, 940 Elysian Fields FRI., December 12th... ~6-10pm, Krewe of Mwindo Second Friday Fish Fry, Krewe Den, 5902 Alost St. 2009 EVENTS FRI., January 9th... ~6-10pm, Krewe of Mwindo, Second Friday Fish Fry, Krewe Den, 5902 Alost St. SUN., January 11th... ~Lords of Leather Royalty Appreciation Party, site TBA SAT., January 24th... ~8-10pm, Krewe of Queenateenas’ 16th annual King Cake Queen of Gay Mardi Gras Coronation, presenting KCQ XVI, by invitation only, Ambush Headquarters SAT., January 31st... ~Krewe of Mwindo Bal Masque XI, Laborers Union Hall SUN., February 1st... ~7pm, Krewe of Petronius Bal Masque XLVIII, New Orleans Scottish Rite Temple, 619621 Carondelet Street SAT., February 14th... ~8pm, Krewe of Amon Ra Bal Masque XLVI, Alario Center SUN., February 15th... ~8pm, Mystic Krewe of Satyricon Bal Masque VII, Sugar Mill FRI., February 20th... ~10pm-2am, Lords of Leather & Phoenix present Night of the Black Mask: The South’s Oldest Leather Block Party, Phoenix/Eagle, Elysian Fields @ N. Rampart SAT., February 21st... ~12noon, Annual Spanish Town Parade, 5th & Spanish Town Road, Baton Rouge ~8pm, Krewe of Armeinius Bal Masque XLI, Alario Center SUN., February 22nd... ~8pm, Lords of Leather Bal Masque XXVI, Alario Center

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GayMardiGras.COM MARDI GRAS (FAT TUESDAY), February 24th... ~12noon, 45th Annual Bourbon Street Awards, Oz, Corner of St. Ann at 800 Bourbon ~2pm - 22nd Annual Official Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss, led by King Cake Queen XVI of Gay Mardi Gras, Ambush Headquarters Balcony, 828 Bourbon St.

FETA CHEESE SPREAD 1 medium garlic bulb 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 (8 ounce) package feta cheese 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened 2 tablespoons finely chopped roasted red bell pepper Heat oven to 350 degrees, cut about 1/8 inch from top of garlic and discard. Place garlic on a small sheet of foil, drizzle with olive oil, wrap in foil, place on a small sheet pan. Bake for thirty to forty-five minutes. Allow to cool, scoop soft garlic pulp out into the bowl of a food processor. Add feta and cream cheese, process about five minutes until light and fluffy. Gently stir in roasted red peppers. On a sheet of plastic wrap, shape cheese mixture into a four inch square, Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least four hours or overnight. To serve, unwrap; place on a small serving plate. Smooth top and sides with a small spatula. Serve with crackers.

Well my little dear ones, that’s it some delightful spreads for hot summer evening. Who knows, they might not be the only thongs that get spread on a warm summers’ eve.

You may contact me at donniejay@hotmail.com.

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GAA Top 5 Man of the Year Finalist Richard with a very handsome stud

Splash’s Trixxie & friend

Michael & Cody

Happy couple out on the town

It’s snuggle time

Having a great night out

Guy & GAA Top 5 Man of the Year Finalist Richard corner a beauty

Gorgeous sex stud Luther & GAA Top 5 Lesbian of the Year Finalist Chansley Ronnie (GAA Top 5 Bitch of the Year Finalist aka Gia) & super-nice Big Girl

Jared & Michael

Nick relaxing

Handsome Joseph & friend

Miss Capital City Pride 08 gets sash

Sexy stud relaxes with a drink

Vacation time for GAA Top 5 Man of the Year Finalist Richard

Bunch of handsome dudes Cody checks out TV screen

Hound Dogs Johnny & friends

Couple of happy customers

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The Social Scene ~ Baton Rouge, Louisiana

GAA Top 5 Lesbian of the Year Finalist Chansley & Danielle at GAA Top 5 Neighborhood of the Year Finalist, George's

photos: Brad Benedict

red stick paparazzi

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hot tails of red stick

by Brad Benedict Email: bradhottails@hotmail.com

I Dream of Jeannie

Y

ou don’t need a bottle that has washed up on a beach to find a Jeannie. Usually, you can drop by Hound Dogs around five or shortly thereafter to find the best Jeannie on the planet. Her place at the bar is practically assured, and it is always so nice to see her sitting there. In the old and original Sloppy Joes in Key West, all the stools have the names of celebrities who have occupied them, and even though Jeannie’s name isn’t on this particular seat, it belongs to her.

Did I ever tell you I sat on Truman Capote, Earnest Hemingway, and Neil Diamond? Oh, well, I won’t go there!

Let me think a while. Where did I first meet Jeannie? Was it at Hound Dogs? I think not. We go back so many years together that I just don’t know. I have an idea that Jacques was involved in some way, and it may have been at the old Mirror Lounge or even at the state department where she works. I’ve done assignments there, and maybe we spoke in passing. I sometimes find it difficult to remember what I’ve done a few hours or days before, and now here I am trying to recall a first meeting.

Wherever it was, it was my pleasure and good fortune to meet her and become

a good friend. Like a light bulb, she makes me light up when I am in her presence. Not many people can do that. Her smile and hugs are always welcomed, and I smile each time I pass the bar and see her car.

I know she’s there, and I know I can pass another good time with her.

Jeannie is one of those special individuals who is liked by everyone, and this was evident at her 70th birthday party last week at Hound Dogs. The place was packed, and the food and drinks were very nice. It was just a nice way to say that a lot of people respect her and love her as a friend who makes you so happy to be in her presence.

She is an avid LSU Tiger fan, and you know that is true when you watch her and listen to her during football season as Hound Dogs customers sit around drinking and watching the games. Her personality is definitely one of the best I’ve ever known a person to possess, and she carries this over into every aspect of her life. It rubs off on anyone in her presence, and that is a trait that few people possess.

I can’t recall ever seeing her in New Orleans when I lived there, but I know she was around. As a friend of Charlene (the owner of the bar on Elysian Fields years ago), they had many good times together.

I think it is nice to feature a younger Jeannie

allons acadiana

by Patrick Clinton Email: BlondAtULL@aol.com

T

hings are as wild as ever in downtown Lafayette. As the temperatures continue to heat up, so do the drink specials. And the entertainment and events just make things that much more festive.

Sound Factory and Back Side have really gone all out this summer. With their new weekly lineup, there’s something incredible going on seven days a week.

They really make sure no matter what night you decide to take a break from your busy life, they’ll not only be open, but have a festive party waiting for you. The week kicks off every Monday and never slows until it all begins again seven days later.

Mondays are a celebration of Monday Madness with all your favorite Happy Hour drink specials. And for those of you who have become accustomed to the weekly Pool Tournament at Back Side, don’t worry about a thing. Your favorite competition hasn’t changed.

Tuesdays are Karaoke Night at Sound Factory, hosted by the ever popular Chad Evans. He has everything from oldies and country to dance and rap. So if you haven’t been out lately on a Tuesday night or you think Karaoke Night is just the same old thing, you definitely need to come by.

Whether you enjoy being on stage or simply watching those that do, you’re sure to

have an awesome night; Chad will make sure of that.

Wednesday are Wild Wednesdays at Sound Factory, with a special theme party every other week. So far, this has been even more spectacular than anticipated.

The first Wild Wednesday was a Luau Party and since then there has been a Military Party and a White Party among the celebrations. And the party will continue tomorrow night with a Beach Party. So dig out your sexiest swimsuits and come by to show off your tan because nothing says summer like scantily clad bar patrons.

And if you haven’t been by to check out Wild Wednesdays, now’s the time to do so. It’s becoming a tradition in Lafayette and redefining the middle of the week. Wednesdays this summer will be wilder than ever.

But the week doesn’t end there.

Thursdays are Thirsty Thursday featuring drink specials that will top any others in town.

Friday nights are Long Friday with specials on all your favorite longneck beer.

Saturdays are now Sizzling Saturday, with drink specials on all your favorite liquor, not just the well drinks, but all your favorite call and premium brands as well.

And to end the week, Sundays begin with Sunday Tea at Back Side and continue with Show Night at Sound Factory.

doing her thing in New Orleans. It is a wonderful picture to imagine in your mind.

I do know one thing. She is a feisty little thing. This was evident recently when someone bumped into her car. When she was jumped by this other woman’s husband and called a few names, she verbally leveled this guy. Take my word for it.

You don’t want to mess with a woman who knows she is in the right, and she will let you know in very definite words exactly what you can do and where you can go – maybe even where you can stick it. I love her style – in any occasion.

Jeannie is just a dear friend who can charm the pants off you. The only thing is that in my case, the pants are on the wrong individual. That doesn’t mean I can’t indulge in a few minutes of relaxation with her. Her company is always positive, and I love being with her. I even look forward to walking into Hound Dogs and seeing her sitting at the end of the bar. To hell with others in the bar! Jeannie is the one I came to see. She is a woman who still works and is an example of goodness within the local community.

Jeannie – happy belated birthday – and here’s hoping you have many, many more. You are loved by everyone, especially me. Let me know when you are ready for that dinner. It’s time to look back while we are looking forward. I am so pleased to have you as a friend.

I Think of Lost Friends

W

hy is it that when we get older we start recalling so many good things that have happened in the past? And sometimes even bad things too. Is that an age thing?

A good example of this is when I think of Leonard. I find it difficult to even drive down Laurel Street on my way home because I have to pass his house. The plants I put there for him are alive and well, but I know the house is empty of his presence. That is sad. I can hear his voice now in my mind. I loved his laugh and his love of life. It showed in his every action, and his love of Mardi Gras balls and movies will remain with me forever. My home has a lot of gifts that he has given me over the years, and they mean a lot to me now, much more than they did when they were first received. Sam and I can’t get together without talking about him and all the good times we had together. We are planning now to periodically drive over to his gravesite and place a flower there. I think he would like that.

Another loss that still remains with me is S.J. I enjoyed his company so much.

He always made me feel so at home when I went to have a drink at the Mirror Lounge.

I can still see the smile on his face when he ran to hug me for walking through those protesters in front of the bar. That was way back when this church reverend had all these beautiful young guys patrolling the What a way to end the week. And it all begins again the next day.

With this new weekly lineup, Sound Factory and Back Side are showing Lafayette that there really can be a celebration every night of the week, and they are single-handedly providing it. It is only June and already downtown Lafayette is hotter than August. I can only imagine what’s in store for the rest of the summer.

Until next time, have fun and be safe.

I’ll see you around town.

street and trying to keep us from entering the bar. Do you remember those days?

The first time I went through this crowd of protesters, I even shocked myself. I think this is why S.J. was so happy to see me.

It was a first for me and was totally unexpected from those in the bar. I even recall that young stud that followed me to the door as I opened it to go inside. I am sure he was probably among those youngsters who frequented Argon or any of the other bars of that period. I just have to think that there was more in his life than pleasing a preacher who I heard was “one of those who did it at one time and then hid it with the pretense of doing the religious protest.” That preacher is still around. I wonder if that was really true. I wonder what happened to that handsome young stud.

Someone else who I miss a lot, and the community misses him too is Greg Bell. I’m not even sure where I met him, but I do recall lots of good times at the old bar over off Highland Road behind the old Prince Murat. That was a nice place, especially the patio, but the neighborhood just wasn’t the best. A lot of people were afraid to go there, but I just marched right on in.

When you had someone like Greg to greet you, this was the important thing. I even recall the first time I saw him in a turnabout role. He was both handsome and beautiful, so pants or a dress made no difference. Later on, he moved on over to Splash where he was prior to his death. Greg was loved for his smile and the overall goodness he showed to everyone. I miss him, and I still have that picture of us together at the Blue Parrot.

Charlie is another gift of goodness, and I for one haven’t forgotten him. When I dine at the Thai restaurant on Florida Boulevard, I often cut out the back way and hit Government Street, passing by his house on the way. I’ve spent many nights there during his illness making sure he was okay. I always carried him an Ambush so he could keep up with what was going on in the community. He always appreciated that. He is someone else I met at the old Mirror Lounge, when it was located on North Boulevard. That was probably when Ms. Hatch still owned it, and Leonard worked there part time.

Charlie was a gifted newspaperman, and he wrote a book before his death that I proofed for him prior to publication. It was about the first woman in Louisiana to be hanged, and it is one that I have often thought would make such a great movie.

In fact, he was researching materials for the book when he had his first fall. I don’t think he ever completely recovered, but he wrote another book, and I read this for him but don’t know what happened to the manuscript. It may have been tossed in the trash along with so many of his other things, but I won’t even go there.

Chuck Lance is someone else who has remained with me over the years.

When I first met him, he was working at George’s, and he was driving from somewhere over around Lafayette to be at work.

It was later on that I had the pleasure of taking pictures of him when he won the Mr. Louisiana Leather title in New Orleans.

He worked at the Phoenix, and he was just simply one of the best of the best. I loved his company, and everyone else loved him too. I think the biggest smile I ever saw on him was when they called out his name as the winner of the Mr. Louisiana Leather [continued on Expose-7]

EXPOSE'-6 of 52 • June 17-30, 2008 • AmbushMag.COM • GayBars.COM • GayMardiGras.COM • GayNewOrleans.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

hot tails of red stick ...from EX-6 title. It totally shocked him because he had ruled himself out and thought another contestant was the winner. That contestant didn’t stand a chance with the judges that day. It was Chuck’s time all along. In fact, one of the guys who placed in the top three went on several years later to win the title for himself. Sometimes, we live in a small world. What goes around in many cases comes right back your way. That’s why it pays to be nice as you go through life.

For Chuck, he was always perfect in every way. He was a beautiful and wonderful friend.

Then there are some lost friends who you realize weren’t friends at all or to anyone for that matter. I recall a really handsome guy who worked for the state government who really had so much going for him. His future was bright. He had the looks of a model, and his personality was outstanding. This suddenly changed almost overnight. He became rather selfish and rude. I’ll never forget sitting at the bar having a drink and hearing a comment he made as he was leaving the bar. He said someone gave it to him, and he was going to give it to everyone he could. That was a selfish and bitter remark after he learned he had AIDS. I always felt different about him after that. Here was someone who was respected in the community but yet he was willing to destroy everyone because of what had happened to him. I can’t forget that comment. I can’t forget him, and I really never knew him that well.

However, he was big in the community and well liked and respected, and the very idea that he would take the community

down with him was just too much for me to understand.

As we go through life, we meet lots of people. It is up to us to sift out the good from the bad. It is extremely important for young guys – and girls too – to make wise decisions. One mistake can be something that will affect the future of an individual forever, and it is a piece of advice that I hope everyone will heed.

I Like People

I

think most will agree when reading my columns that I try to reach out with a positive message. It is my belief that if you can’t say something good about someone, then you should keep comments to yourself. I agree that it is difficult to do sometimes, but do it anyway. I think most people will agree that being positive is so much better than constantly displaying a negative attitude toward life in general. Perk up! Be nice! Put forth a smile and enjoy life!

Enjoying life is definitely what most people I know are doing. I just have to comment once more on a new friend, one Robert of the House of Magnificence. That means I am thoroughly pleased with his individual taste in art, in style, and in goodness. I suffered with him this past week when he had his finger in the wrong spot, and it got a squeezed a little too much. The nail became black immediately, and since I didn’t hear a scream, I assume he hid out in his house for awhile until he got his wits back. Even that little attack didn’t deter him from continuing with his work. He is that kind of guy – positive regardless of what [continued on Expose-18]

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acadiana

paparazzi

Odette out on a Wild Wednesday at GAA Top 5 Dance Bar of the Year Finalist, Sound Factory

Brittny showing off her lei at GAA Top 5 Dance Bar of the Year Finalist, Sound Factory

Gabby is all smiles at GAA Top 5 Dance Bar of the Year Finalist, Sound Factory

Jimmy relaxing at GAA Top 5 Dance Bar of the Year Finalist, Sound Factory

Dallas hanging out at GAA Top 5 Dance Bar of the Year Finalist, Sound Factory

Kaila & Ann getting wild at GAA Top 5 Dance Bar of the Year Finalist, Sound Factory

Khory & Jesse partying at GAA Top 5 Dance Bar of the Year Finalist, Sound Factory

Shayne & Ryan out at GAA Top 5 Dance Bar of the Year Finalist, Sound Factory Chris all decked out at GAA Top 5 Dance Bar of the Year Finalist, Sound Factory

Lindsey ready to party at GAA Top 5 Dance Bar of the Year Finalist, Sound Factory

Ariel, Stephan & Kiwi at GAA Top 5 Dance Bar of the Year Finalist, Sound Factory

Macky tapping the keg at GAA Top 5 Dance Bar of the Year Finalist, Sound Factory

Thomas from Paris at GAA Top 5 Dance Bar of the Year Finalist, Sound Factory

Matt winding down at GAA Top 5 Dance Bar of the Year Finalist, Sound Factory

Thomas vacationing from Canada at GAA Top 5 Dance Bar of the Year Finalist, Sound Factory

Jamie pondering Ambush at GAA Top 5 Dance Bar of the Year Finalist, Sound Factory

Teddy dressed out at GAA Top 5 Dance Bar of the Year Finalist, Sound Factory

Marty visiting GAA Top 5 Dance Bar of the Year Finalist, Sound Factory

EXPOSE'-8 of 52 • June 17-30, 2008 • AmbushMag.COM • GayBars.COM • GayMardiGras.COM • GayNewOrleans.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

Acadiana Fun ~ Lafayette, Louisiana photos: Patrick Clinton

Sally & Ben enjoying Wild Wednesday at GAA Top 5 Dance Bar of the Year Finalist, Sound Factory

John, Michelle & Travis at GAA Top 5 Dance Bar of the Year Finalist, Sound Factory

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Shreveport, LA [318] KORNER LOUNGE, 800 Louisiana, 71101; 222.9796 Slidell, LA [985] BILLY'S, 2600 Hwy. 190 West, 847.1921 Austin, TX [512] 'BOUT TIME, 9601 N. IH-35, 832.5339 CHAIN DRIVE, 504 Willow St., 480.9017 CHARLIE'S, 1301 Lavaca St., 474.6481 CP THE ALTERNATIVE, 113 San Jacinto, 457.8010 OILCAN HARRY'S, 211 W. 4th, 320.8823 RAINBOW CATTLE COMPANY, 305 W. 5th St., 472.5288 RAIN ON 4TH, 217- B West 4th St., 494.1150

CANAL STREET

ST. LOUIS

COUNTRY CLUB, 634 Louisa St., TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM, 945.0742 COWPOKES, 2240 St. Claude, 947.0505 CUTTER'S, 706 Franklin, 948.4200 THE DOUBLE PLAY, 439 Dauphine, 523.4517 THE FRIENDLY BAR, 2301 Chartres, 943.8929 GOLDEN LANTERN, 1239 Royal, 529.2860 GOOD FRIENDS BAR, 740 Dauphine St, 566.7191, GoodFriendsBar.COM JOHNPAUL'S, 940 Elysian Fields Ave., 948.1888 LE ROUNDUP, 819 St. Louis, 561.8340 NAPOLEON'S ITCH, 734 Bourbon, 371.5450 NINTH CIRCLE AT CONGO SQUARE, 700 N. Rampart, 524.7654 OZ NEW ORLEANS, 800 Bourbon, 593.9491, ozneworleans. com PHOENIX/EAGLE, 941 Elysian Fields, 945.9264, phoenixbar.com RAWHIDE 2010, 740 Burgundy St., 525.8106, Rawhide2010.COM SOCIETY PAGE, 542 N. Rampart St., 299.0156 STARLIGHT BY THE PARK, 834 N. Rampart St., 561.8939, starlightbythepark.com VOODOO, 817 N. Rampart St., 304.1568

RT PA M RA

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E IN PH U A D

French Quarter/Faubourg Marigny/Bywater

bookstores Birmingham, AL [205] ALABAMA BOOKS, 801 Third Ave., 322.7823 BIRMINGHAM ADULT BOOKS, 7610 First Ave. North, 836.1580

New Orleans, LA [504] AIRLINE ADULT BOOKS, 1404 26th St., Kenner, LA 70062; 468.2931 CHARTRES ST. CONXXXION, 107

Chartres St., 586.8006 FAB - Faubourg Marigny Art & Books, 600 Frenchmen St., 947.3700 PARADISE ADULT VIDEO, 41 W. 24th St., Kenner, LA 70065; 461.0000 PARADISE #2 IN ELMWOOD, 5608 Heebe, Harahan, LA, 733.7780 SLIDELL ADULT SUPERSTORE, Slidell, LA, 985.646.2616 Knoxville, TN [865] TOWN & COUNTRY BOOK DEN, 6927 Clinton Hwy., 947.9153 WEST KNOX NEWS, 5011 Kingston Pike, 588.1972

Austin, TX [512] ADULT VIDEO MEGAPLEXXX, 7111South I-35, 442.5430,www.sexysite.com LOBO, 3204A Guadalupe, 454.5406

cable shows New Orleans, LA [504] THE GAR WILLIAMS SHOW, Every Wed. &Sat., 8:30am & 8:30pm, Access Television Channel 78

casinos New Orleans, LA [504] HARRAHS NEW ORLEANS, Canal at the River, 800.HARRAHS

chiropractic New Orleans, LA [504] DR. MICHAEL LECHLEITER, D.C., St. Charles Chiropractic, 1529 Jackson Ave., 566.1833 [is1108]

circuit/events Aug. 27-Sept. 1, 2008, Official Southern Decadence 37-A Celebration of Gay Life, Music & Culture, end of Summer Blowout including the Southern Decadence Parade & loads of activities, bringing over 135,000 revelers to New Orleans, LA, sponsored by Ambush & SouthernDecadence.COM Oct. 23-26, 2008, Halloween 25: Silver Party, benefiting Project Lazarus, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by AmbushMag.COM, halloweenneworleans.com Dec. 28, 2008-Jan. 1, 2009, Gay New Year's in New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, GayNewOrleans.COM Feb. 19-24, 2009, Official Gay Mardi Gras, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by Ambush, GayMardiGras.COM Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009, Official Gay Easter Parade, New Orleans, sponsored by Ambush & Queen Fashions, GayEasterParade.COM May 22-25, 2009, Memorial Day Weekend, Pensacola, FL, sponsored by Ambush, GayPensacola.COM June 4-7, 2009, One Mighty Weekend, Gay Day Weekend at Disney sponsored by Ambush, OneMightyWeekend.COM

construction New Orleans, LA [504] HISTORIC RENOVATIONS, 432.3786, Jim 344.4664

Scott

counseling New Orleans, LA [504]

Spiritual Counseling for Gays and Lesbiansyou don’t have to change!

Doubting your relationship with God? Need someone to talk to? Phone sessions with trained professional, sliding scale rates.

L G B Ts p i r i t u a l d i r e c t o r @ g m a i l . c o m [is1408] DAVID WAGNER, M.Ed., Counseling & Psychotherapy, 3001 Fifth St., Metairie, LA 70002; 836.0000 WILLIAM C. AUSTIN, LCSW, Individual & Family Therapy, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LA Lic # 8042, 1532 Ursulines Ave.,

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504.586.7400, 225.571.5964

[is2108]

florists Baton Rouge, LA [225] FOUR SEASONS FLOWERS & GIFTS, 3482 Drusilla Ln., Drusilla Shopping Center, 924.1386, 1.800.237.5381

framing New Orleans, LA [504] ANGLE CUSTOM FRAME, 4422 Magazine St., 269.3726

galleries New Orleans, LA [504] ARTICHOKE GALLERY, 912 Decatur St., 636.2004, www.ArtichokeGallery.COM FAB - Faubourg Marigny Art & Books, 600 Frenchmen St., 947.3700

gardening/landscaping New Orleans, LA [504] AMERICAN AQUATIC GARDENS, 621 Elysian Fields, 944.0410

guides America Damron Travel Guide, 800.462.6654, www.damron.com Gulf South/United States AMBUSH Mag, 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137; 504.522.8049, ambushmag.com; email: info@ ambushmag.com International GayBars.COM, 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137; 504.522.8049, webmaster@gaybars.com United States/Canada GAYELLOW PAGES: Informing the US/ Canada LGBTG Community since 1973. Separate sections for Women and Ethnic/Multicultural focus. PO Box 533, NY, NY 10014-0533; 212.674.0120, http://gayellowpages.com gayellowpages@earthlink.net. Sold at Alternatives/New Orleans, LA

groceries/delis New Orleans, LA [504] QUARTERMASTER DELI, THE NELLIE DELI, 1100 Bourbon, 529.1416 VERTI MART, 1201 Royal St., 525.4767

hair salons New Orleans, LA [504] BOBBY BLUE, 906 Bourbon St., 527.5100 HEAD QUARTERS HAIR SALON, 900 Dauphine St., 522.2666 MICKEY NOLAN'S SALON, 815 Toulouse St., 587.7782 SALON D'MALTA, 1233 Decatur St., 565.5555

laundries New Orleans, LA [504] RALPH'S QUARTER LAUNDERETTE & DRY CLEANING, 1101 Bourbon St., 522.9274 WASHING WELL LaunDRYteria since 1949, City Wide Pick-up, Fluff Dry or Finished,

1 Hour Service, 841 Bourbon St., 523.9955 or 525.3983 [is1308]

lodging/accommodations Birmingham, AL DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayAmerica.COM Mobile, AL DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayAmerica.COM Ft. Lauderdale, FL DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayAmerica.COM Ft. Walton Beach, FL DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayPensacola.COM Key West, FL DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayKeyWest.COM Miami/South Beach, FL [305] DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GaySouthBeach.COM Orlando, FL DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayAmerica.COM Pensacola, FL DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayPensacola.COM Atlanta, GA DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayAtlanta.COM Baton Rouge, LA DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayBatonRouge.BIZ Lafayette, LA DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, AmbushMag.COM Lake Charles, LA DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, AmbushMag.COM New Orleans [504] BURGUNDY BED AND BREAKFAST, 2513 Burgundy St., New Orleans, LA 70117, PHONE/ FAX: 504.942.1463, Toll Free (Continental US only): 1.800.970.2153, theburgundy.com, Email us at theburgundy@cox.net. Gay owned and operated in newly renovated 1890's double.

Four guest rooms with private baths, guests' parlor and "half-kitchen", courtyard and halfopen tubhouse with spa (hot tub/whirlpool).

Clothing optional in sunbathing and hot tub area.

Walking distance to French Quarter. Immediate vicinity of gay and lesbian bars/venues.

CORNSTALK HOTEL, 915 Royal St., New Orleans, LA 70116, PHONE: 504.523.1515, FAX: 504.522.5558, Toll Free: 800.759.6112, CornstalkHotel.COM, E-mail us at Reservations@CornstalkHotel.COM. The Cornstalk Hotel, once a private home, in the heart of the French Quarter, one block from Bourbon, but quieter, now welcomes visitors to enjoy its hospitality and Victorian charm.

CREOLE INN, 2471 Dauphine St., New Orleans, LA 70117, PHONE: 504.948.3230, FAX: 504.948.4410, CreoleInn.COM, E-mail us at CreoleInn@aol.com. In the Gay/Lesbian Marigny adjacent to French Quarter, Frenchmen Street & Country Club; private baths, garden, wireless Internet, AC, cable TV/VCR, Continental breakfast. Gay operated; mention AMBUSH for 10% discount.

INN THE QUARTER, French Quarter, New Orleans, 70116, PHONE: 504.527.5360, Toll Free: 800.570.3085, InnTheQuarter.COM, E-mail us at Info@InnTheQuarter.COM. Over 20 guest

rooms, suites and apartments in the French Quarter. All accomnmodations are within a few short blocks of Lafitte’s, Bourbon Pub, Oz, Good Friends, Rawhide and all the other “HOT” spots. Our properties offer private entrances, tropical courtyards, air conditioning, private bathrooms, televisions, and direct dial phones with free local calls. Some have additional features such as balconies, jacuzzi tubs, refrigerators, microwaves, coffee makers, full kitchens, high-speed Internet access and free off-street parking. Absolutely all are clean and safe. Regular rates starting at $79/nt. Special Event rates starting at $119/nt. Weekly and monthly discounts available.

MARIGNY MANOR HOUSE, 2125 N. Rampart St., New Orleans, LA 70116, PHONE: 504.943.7826, Toll Free: 877.247.7599, marignymanorhouse.com, E-mail us at info@MarignyManorHouse.COM. 1840’s Grand Greek Revival guest house, large spacious bedrooms, private baths, antique 4 poster queen beds, wireless internet access, tv/vcr/dvd/ cable, telephone, complimentary continental breakfast and off street parking.

BON MAISON GUEST HOUSE, 835 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116, 504.561.8498 BOURGOYNE GUEST HOUSE, 839 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116, 504.524.3621 Shreveport, LA DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, AmbushMag.COM Biloxi, MS DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayAmerica.COM Hattiesburg, MS DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayAmerica.COM Jackson, MS DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayAmerica.COM Natchez, MS [601] DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayAmerica.COM Austin, TX [512] DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayAustin.NET Beaumont, TX DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayAmerica.COM Dallas, TX DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayDallas.COM Galveston Island, TX [409] DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayTexas.NET Houston, TX DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayHouston.COM San Antonio, TX DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayTexas.NET South Padre Island, TX [956] DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayTexas.NET UPPER DECK HOTEL & BAR, PO Box 2309, 120 E. Atol St., 78597; 761.5953, E-mail: gaypadre@upperdeckhotel.com, upperdeckhotel.com

massage New Orleans, LA [504] FRENCH QUARTER MASSAGE BY MIKE - Treat Yourself!” - Professional, Private & Personal. Deep Tissue & Swedish Massages available.

Phone 598.3237. www.FrenchQuarterMassage.COM. E-mail: fqmassage@cox.net. License #LA2687 [is1308] PROFESSIONAL MASSAGE THERAPY

By Patrick LMT - Outcall or Uptown Studio.

Safe neighborhood comfortable studio. Towels available for draping, Non-Sexual, 717.2577, www. n e w o r l e a n s . a m a z i n g h a n d s . u s Discounts for: Friends of Dorothy, Students, Artists, Service Industry, License #LA4005 [is1308]

media New Orleans, LA [504] AMBUSH Mag, Official Gay Easter Guide, Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide, Official Gay

New Orleans Guide, Official Gulf South Guide, Official Southern Decadence Guide, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 522.8049, AmbushMag.COM; email: info@ ambushmag.com AMBUSHonLINE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137; 522.8047, ambushonline.com, email: info@ambushonline.com

models/escorts New Orleans, LA [504] HANDSOME, MASCULINE GUY available 24/7 for companionship, dinner, etc. 6'0", 182#, brn/brn, magic hands, gives fabulous body rubs also. In/Out/Hotels. Charlie @ 430.7413 [is1308] MIKEY-HOT, HANDSOME, HARD-BODIED MUSCLE STUD with no attitude, very friendly.

35, 5'10", 175#, USDA Prime! In/out/hotels, 24/ 7. Playgirl, Inches & Freshmen Magazine model. 504.756.9443 [is1308]

museum/arts Baton Rouge, LA [225] LOUISIANAARTS AND SCIENCE CENTER / RIVERSIDE MUSEUM, 100 S. River Road, 344.5272 LOUISIANA GOVERNOR'S MANSION, 1001 Capitol Access Rd., 342.5855 LOUISIANA STATEARCHIVES, 3851 Essen Ln. LOUISIANA STATE CAPITOL, State Capitol Dr. LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY HILLTOP ARBORETUM, 11855 Highland Rd., 767.6916 LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY RURAL LIFE MUSEUM, I-10 at Essen Lane, 765.2437 LSU MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE and MUSEUM OF GEOSCIENCE, LSU Campus, 388.2855 MAGNOLIA MOUND PLANTATION, 2161 Nicholson Dr., 343.4955 OLD ARSENAL MUSEUM, State Capitol Complex, 342.0401 OLD BOGAN FIRE STATION, 427 Laurel St., 344.8558 OLD GOVERNOR'S MANSION, 502 North Blvd., 344.5272 OLD PENTAGON BARRACKS, State Capitol Dr. at River Road, 342.1866 OLD STATE CAPITOL, 100 North Blvd. at River Road, 342.0500 or 342.4479 USS KIDD/NAUTICAL HISTORICAL CENTER, Government St. at River Rd., 342.1942 New Orleans, LA [504] BEAUREGARD-KEYES HOUSE, 1113

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Chartres, 523.7257, Mon-Sat 10am-3pm CABILDO, 701 Chartres, Jackson Square, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm CAC [Contemporary Arts Center], 900 Camp St., 528.3805, cacno.org 1850 HOUSE, 523 St. Ann, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm GALLIER HOUSE, 1132 Royal, 523.6722, Mon-Fri 10am-3:30pm GERMAINEWELLSMARDIGRASMUSEUM, 2nd Floor Arnaud's, 819 Bienville HERMANN-GRIMA HISTORIC HOUSE, 820 St. Louis, 525.5661, Mon-Fri 10am-3:30pm HISTORICAL PHARMACY MUSEUM, 514 Chartres, 524.9077, Daily 10am-5:30pm HISTORIC NEW ORLEANS COLLECTION, 533 Royal, 523.4662, Tues-Sat 10am-4:45pm LONGUE VUE HOUSE AND GARDENS, 7 Bamboo Rd, Metairie, 488.5488, Mon-Sat 10am4:30pm, Sun 1-5pm MUSEECONTIHISTORICALWAXMUSEUM, 917 Conti, 525.2605, Daily 10am-5:30pm NATIONAL D-DAY MUSEUM, 945 Magazine, 527.6012 NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART, City Park, 1 Collins Diboll Circle, 488.2631, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm OGDEN MUSEUM OF SOUTHERNART, 925 Camp St., 539.9600 OLD U.S. MINT, 400 Esplanade, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm PRESBYTERE, 751 Chartres, Jackson Square, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL, Jackson Square, Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 1:30-5pm

music New Orleans [504] SKULLY'Z RECORDZ, 907 Bourbon St.

organizations Mobile, AL ALABAMA PRIDE FEST, MobileAlabamaPride.COM AQUA, THE PARTY, PO Box 145, Mobile, AL 36601, TheAquaParty.COM BAY AREA INCLUSION, BayAreaInclusion.ORG FUSION, MobileFusion.ORG GULF COAST BEARS & LEATHER ASSOCIATION, b-bobs.com/gcbla.htm Pensacola, FL [850] APPETITE FOR LIFE, INC., provides 2 nutritionally balanced meals a day-lunch & dinner, for some 60 men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS, 1842 West Cervantes St.; Mail: P.O. Box 308, 32592-0308; 470.9111, Fax: 470.0201, gaypensacola.com/appforlife GULF COAST TIDE, INC. w w w . G u l f C o a s t T I D E . o r g ; info@GulfCoastTIDE.org Alexandria, LA [318] CLASS [Central Louisiana AIDS Support Services], 103 Bolton Ave., 71301; 1.800.444.7993, 442. 1 0 1 0, FAX: 443.5216 Baton Rouge, LA [225] HAART (HIV/AIDS Alliance for Region Two), 4550 North Blvd., #250, 927.1269, Fax: 927.7367, haartinc.org, haartinc@aol.com GBLSU [Gays, Bisexuals, Lesbians & Supporters United], glsapres@unixl.sncc.

Isu.edu, Kristy Price, President, 388.5160 KREWE OF APOLLO / BATON ROUGE, PO Box 3591, 70821; kreweapollobr.org KREWE OF DIVAS, kreweofdivas.com, 343.0380 LAMBDA GROUP, 2937 Greenwood Dr., PO Box 82775, 70884-2775, 907.3665, www.lambdabr.org, info@lambdabr.org LEWIS HUMPHREY’S FOOD FOR FRIENDS, 387.9798

METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH OF BATON ROUGE, 7747 Tom Drive, 70806, Worship Sunday, 11am, Bible Study Wednesday, 7pm, 225.248.0404, mccbr.org MYSTIC KREWE OF ROYALTY, PO Box 66571, 70896; 926.1698 PFLAG Baton Rouge, Harold L. Truax, 33370 Percy Young Rd., Walker, LA 70785; 225.218.8320, 225.288.2522

Lafayette, LA [337] ACADIANA CARES [Concern for AIDS Relief, Education, and Support], PO Box 386, Lafayette, LA 70502; 203 W. 3rd St., 70501; 233.2437, FAX: 235.4178; 800.354.2437 KREWE OF APOLLO / LAFAYETTE, PO Box 53251, 70505 LEAGUE FOR EQUALITY, PO Box 53425, 70505 PFLAG/LAFAYETTE, PO Box 31078, 70503 ROYAL ORDER OF UNICORN, PO Box 3985, 70502 Monroe, LA [318] GO CARE 2121 Justice, 71201, 325.1092 New Orleans, LA [504] ACADIANA RAINBOW SOCIETY OF THE DEAF, PO Box 57166, 70157; 889.0138 (TDD) AIDS HOTLINE, 821.6050 in New Orleans, 1.800.99.AIDS[2437]-9 toll free statewide ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, 779.1178 BELLE REVE NEW ORLEANS, AIDS Residence for Families, PO Box 3305, 70177; 945.9455 BIG EASY M.C.C. (Metropolitan Community Church of Greater New Orleans), Sunday Worship at St Matthew’s UCC, 1333 S. Carrollton Ave. at Willow. Fellowship after service. Mailing address: 1333 S. Carrolllton Ave. New Orleans, LA, 70118; 213.4340, p a s t o r @ b i g e a s y m c c . c o m , www.bigeasymcc.com BROTHERHOOD, INC., To decrease the spread of AIDS and HIV among African Americans, 1661 Canal St., Suite 3230, 70112; 566.7955 CAVALIERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB: Gay motocycle group sponsors monthly day rides and other riding events in New Orleans area.

Visit www.cavaliersmc.comc or call 782.5625 or e-mail info@cavaliersmc.com.

CHURCH OF CHRIST THE LIBERATOR, Sun. 11am Service, 607 Marigny St. (behind The Friendly Bar), ChristTheLiberator.ORG COMING OUT SUPPORT GROUP, meets 1st Wed. of each month, 7:30-9pm, Info: Liz 482.4012; Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 2114 Decatur St., 70116; 945.1103 COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK, a project of the NO/AIDS Task Force which works with the gay community to implement HIV prevention activities, 507 Frenchmen St., 945.4000, noaidstaskforce.com COPS 8 (Citizens' Organization for Police Support in the 8th District), 840 N. Rampart St., #51, 70116; 588.COPS (2677), cops8.org DRAMA! [A Gay & Lesbian Arts Organization], PO Box 52565, 70152; 948.9924, DramaNO.org, DRAMA@DramaNO.org FOOD FOR FRIENDS, 944.6028 FORUM FOR EQUALITY, 336 Lafayette, Suite 200, 70130; 947.2981, ForumForEquality@aol.com FOUNDATION FOR MACRO BIOTIC WAY, enjoy-life.com GAY APPRECIATION AWARDS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137; 522.8049; AmbushMag.COM/GAA GAY COUNSELING LINE, 833.1500 GLSEN [Gay Lesbian & Straight Education Network], 482.4081, Fax 595.8587, E-mail: glsenno@hotmail.com, glsenno.org GULF GENDER ALLIANCE [GGA], NonProfit Support Group for Transgender persons.

Monthly meetings, socials and political activism.

Privacy respected and expected. Interview required. Nondiscriminatory. Call 504. 324.4035 or write PO Box 56836, New Orleans, LA 70156-6836; gga.org, E-mail: info@gga.org HALLOWEEN IN NEW ORLEANS, INC., PO Box 52171, 70152-2171; halloween neworleans.com HATE CRIMES HOTLINE, c/o Family Service of Greater New Orleans, 504.202.2131.

The Hate Crimes Project offers to assist those who feel that they may have been a victim of a hate crime. The project provides advocacy for persons victimized due to race, religion, gender and gender identity, age, disability, and/or sexual orientation.

IN THIS TOGETHER, HIV/AIDS Case Management, 1661 Canal Street, Suite 3107, 70112; 962.3245, is www.inthistogetherinc.org, itt@accesscom.net KOCKTAIL BUNCH BOWLING LEAGUE,

Contact Glenn Culp, 504.861.0233 KREWE OF ARMEINIUS, PO Box 56638, New Orleans, LA 70156-6638, cetubby@cox.net, KreweOfArmeinius.ORG KREWE OF AMON RA, PO Box 7033, Metairie, LA 70010, KreweOfAmonRa.COM KREWE OF MWINDO, PO Box 51031, 70156; 913.5791, KreweOfMwindo.ORG, krewe@kreweofmwindo.org KREWE OF PETRONIUS, PO Box 71665, 70172, Pres. Arthur Alarcon 451.9507, Capt. Bill McCarthy 430.6695, Sec. Mae Falgout 484.6045, http://kreweofpetronius.tripod.com KREWE OF QUEENATEENAS / KING CAKE QUEEN ROYALTY CLUB, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 522.8049, GayMardiGras.COM/ KCQ LaCARP [Louisiana Community AIDS Research Program], 584.1971 LA-LIFT, Social Club for Lesbians, age 50+, who have fun together on weekends. Email: armyvet20@webtv.net LAMBDA CENTER, 831 Elysian Fields Ave., 70117, LambdaCenter.NET, info@lambdacenter.net, LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF NEW ORLEANS, 234 Loyola, Suite 421, 70112; 581.9106 LESBIAN & GAY COMMUNITY CENTER OF NEW ORLEANS, 2114 Decatur St., 701162013; 945.1103, Fax 945.1102, Email: info@lgccno.net LORDS OF LEATHER, P.O. Box 741089, New Orleans, LA 70174, LordsOfLeather.COM LOUISIANA STATE GAY RODEO ASSOCIATION (LSGRA), 915.3339, lance@lsgra.com, LSGRA.COM MCLNO HOP Clinic, 136 S. Roman Street, 4th Floor, New Orleans, LA 70112; Appts.: 504.903.6959, www.hopclinic.org METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS, Sunday Friendship Hour 4:15pm, Worship/Celebration, 5pm at St Matthew’s UCC, 1333 Carrollton Ave. at Willow; Mailing Address: PO Box 71024, 70172; 945.5390, www.mccgno.com MYSTIC KNIGHTS OF ADONIS, 236.4530, Adonis-TLC.COM, MYSTIC KREWE OF SATYRICON, 1021 Gov. Nicholls St., 70116, 525.4498, MysticKreweOfSatyricon.COM NEW ORLEANS BEAR & BEAR TRAPPER SOCIAL CLUB, PO Box 740894, 70174-0894; 529.6975, www.neworleansbears.com NEW ORLEANS GAY MEN’S CHORUS, 948.6884, nogmc.com; nogmc@aol.com NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL, nojazzfest.com NEW ORLEANS WOMEN’S MUSIC COLLECTIVE, 2903 Jefferson Ave., 70115; Ann 838.7918, Sydney 833.2834 NO/AIDS TASK FORCE, 2601 Tulane Ave., Suite 500, 70119; 821.2601; NOAIDSTaskForce.COM N'R Peace, 3201 Gen. DeGaulle Dr., Suite 201, 70114, 364.1950 MOC/NO [Men of Color/New Orleans], 482.5341 OFFICIAL GAY EASTER PARADE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, info@gayeasterparade.com, GayEasterParade.COM OFFICIAL GAY MARDI GRAS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayMardiGras.COM OFFICIAL GAY NEW ORLEANS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayNewOrleans.COM OFFICIAL SOUTHERN DECADENCE, 828A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, SouthernDecadence.COM PEOPLE OF SUBSTANCE, INC. (POS), 7210 Arbor Dr., 70126, 244.1920, posnola.com PFLAG/NO [Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays/ New Orleans], PO Box 15515, 70175; 895.3936, 392.0001, pflagno.org, info@pflagno.org PRIDEFEST NEW ORLEANS, presented

by New Orleans Alliance of Pride, 1000 Bourbon St., Box 365, New Orleans, LA 70116; pridefestneworleans@yahoo.com, www.nolapridefest.org PROJECT LAZARUS, A Residence for PWAs, PO Box 3906, 70177-3906; 949.3609

RA/UNO (Rainbow Alliance/University of New Orleans), Office of Campus Activities, 200 Lakeshore Dr., 70148; 280.6349; FAX: 280.6633. Regular meetings Thursdays, 12:301:30, RM 210 of UC, all students and members of UNO are welcome REGIONALAIDS INTERFAITH NETWORK [RAIN], 523.3755 TAU HOUSE MINISTRIES, 1029 Governor Nicholls, 70116, roddyssnd@aol.com, 529.3569. Mass on Sunday 4:15pm; Vespers on Monday, Wednesday, Friday 6pm. Everyone is welcome!

TO DO PRODUCTIONS, 948.9608, www.todoproductions.org VOLLEYBALL NEW ORLEANS, PO Box 13306, 70185-3306; volleyballneworleans.com, postmaster@volleyballneworleans.com WILLIAM J. FANNING FOUNDATION [Buzzy’s Boys & Girls], 2301 Chartres, 70117; 943.8929 Shreveport, LA [318] KREWE OF APOLLO/SHREVEPORT, PO Box 4918, 71134 PHILADELPHIA CENTER, PO Box 44454, 71134-4454; 222.6633 YWCAAIDS MINORITY COMMUNITY OUTREACH, 700 Pierre Ave., 71103; 226.8717 Austin, TX [512] AUSTIN BABTIST WOMEN, 291.1563 www.babtistwomen.com. Raising Spirits and Millions of Dollars for Charity Since 1986.

AUSTIN LATINO/LATINA LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL & TRANSGENDER ORGANIZATION [ALLGO], 1715 E. 6th St., Ste. 112, 78762-6149; 472.2001, allgo.org BI-MEN-TEXAS, Texas Chapter of the BiMEN Worldwide Network-now over 100,000 active male members. TX online support group and contact list for bisexual, bi-curious and gay adult men. Free. Annual Bi-Men Conference each Fall. www.bisexual.org/resources/ alist.asp KINGDOM SEEKERS IN CHRIST JESUS, 81 San Marcos St., 78702; 322.0049 MINISTRY OF COMMON SENSE SPIRITUALITY, PO Box 687411, 78701; 669.0608, Rev. N. Holmann, asknorbert.com PROJECT TRANSITIONS, PO Box 4826, 78765; 454.8646, projecttransitions.org, AIDShous ing@projecttransitions.org, dedicated to serving people with AIDS by providing hospice, housing and support in a compassionate and caring environment.

TEXAS GAY RODEO ASSOCIATION (TGRA) Austin chapter, www.Austintgra.org Dallas, TX [214] KREWE OF APOLLO-DALLAS, KreweofApollo-Dallas.com Houston, TX [713] PRIDE COMMITTEE OF HOUSTON, PO Box 66071, 77266-6071; 529.6979, Fax 529.6929, info@pridehouston.org, pride houston.org San Antonio, TX [210] DIVERSITY CENTER (San Antonio & South Texas' GLBTQI Community Center), Office: 223.6106, Fax: 223.7419, TDD: 271.8025, HIV/ AIDS & GLBT Domestic Violence Hotline: Toll Free 1.866.452.2724, diversitycentersa.org

mail New Orleans, LA [504] MARIGNY MAIL, 2401 Burgundy, 948.7401

pets CHI-WA-WA GA-GA, 37 French Market Place, 70116; 581.4242; chiwawagaga.com FRENCH QUARTER PET ASYLUM, 510 Dumaine St., 274.0810

pharmacy New Orleans, LA [504] MUMFREY'S PHARMACY, 1021 W. Judge Perez Dr., Chalmette, LA 70043, 504.279.6312

photography New Orleans, LA [504] GRAHAM/STUDIO ONE NEW ORLEANS,

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by appointment, grahamstudioone.com, cafepress.com/grahamimages

printers New Orleans, LA [504] SIR SPEEDY, 343 Carondelet, 586.9812

real estate New Orleans, LA [504] CALDWELL BANKER REALTORS, Mark Boline 655.2233, Adrianne Bieller 617.0500 ETHEL KIDD REAL ESTATE, 637 Pere Antoine Alley, Inez Douglas 451.1082, 524.6809 KELLER WILLIAMS REALTORS, 8601 Leak Ave., 524.8530 LATTER & BLUM, Agent Mary Lind, 948.3011, 539.9742, 581.2020 PRUDENTIAL GARDNER REALTORS, Agent Brett A. Rector, Cell: 453.2277, Office: 861.6400, brettinla@aol.com

restaurants New Orleans, LA [504] Buffa's, 1001 Esplanade at Burgundy, 949.0038 Bywater Bar.B.Que,3162 Dauphine St., 944.4445 Cafe Amelie, 912 Royal St., 412.8965 Clover Grill, 900 Bourbon St., 598.1010, CloverGrill.COM Country Club Restaurant, 634 Louisa St., TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM, 945.0742 Krystal, 116 Bourbon at Canal, 523.4030 La Peniche, 1940 Dauphine St., 943.1460 Magazine Perks, 4332 Magazine, 899.2911, MagazinePerks.COM Marigny Perks, 2401 Burgundy, 948.7401, MarignyPerks.COM Meauxbar Bistro, 942 N. Rampart St., 569.9979, MeauxBar.COM Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212 Royal St., 522.6746 Petunias, A Restaurant, Cajun, Creole, Crepes, Cocktails, 817 St. Louis, 70112; 522.6440 Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, 1100 Bourbon St. , 529.1416 Riche, Fulton Street at Poydras inside Harrah's Hotel, 533.6117 Tomatillo's Restaurant, 437 Esplanade Ave., 945.9997

retail/shopping New Orleans, LA [504] ALTERNATIVES, 907 Bourbon St., 70116; 524.5222 BEAR NECESSITIES, 940 Decatur, 598.2134, BearsAndHares.COM BOURBON-STRIP TEASE, 205 Bourbon St., 70130; 581.6633, bourbontease.com THE HERB IMPORT COMPANY, 711 St. Peter [in French Quarter], 525.4372; 5055 Canal St. [near City Park Ave.], 488.4889 PANDA BEAR, 415 Bourbon St., 529.8064 RAB DAB CLOTHING AND GIFTS, 918 Royal St., 525.6662 SERENDIPITOUS MASKS, 831 Decatur St., 522.9158 SECOND SKIN LEATHER, 521 St. Philip St., 561.8167 QUEEN FASHIONS.COM, queen-

fashions.com, exoticfashionmall.com WICKED ORLEANS, 1201 Decatur, 529.4384, WickedOrleans.COM

Austin, TX [512] GOMI, 233 W. 2nd St., 442.9977, gomikitti.com TAPELENDERS VIDEO/OUTLINES MENSWEAR AUSTIN, 1114 West 5th St., 472.0844, www.tapelenders.com

spas Ft. Lauderdale, FL [954] CLUB FT. LAUDERDALE, 400 W. Broward Blvd., 525.3344, www.the-clubs.com Atlanta, GA [404] FLEX ATLANTA, 76 Fourth St., 815.0456 New Orleans, LA [504] CLUB NEW ORLEANS, 515 Toulouse, 581.2402, www.the-clubs.com FLEX NEW ORLEANS, 700 Baronne St., 598.FLEX [3539] SPA ATLANTIS PROFESSIONAL SPA & SALON, 740 Gravier St., 566.8088, SpaAtlantis.NET Austin, TX [512] MIDTOWNE SPA, 5815 Airport Blvd., 302.9696 Dallas, TX [214] CLUB DALLAS, 2616 Swiss Ave., 821.1990, www.the-clubs.com MIDTOWNE SPA, 2509 Pacific Ave., 821.8989 Houston, TX [713] CLUB HOUSTON, 2205 Fannin St., 659.4998, www.the-clubs.com MIDTOWNE SPA, 3100 Fannin St., 522.2379

tanning New Orleans, LA [504] PLANET BEACH, 301 Burgundy, 525.8266

tattoos/piercings New Orleans, LA [504] AART ACCENT TATTOO & PIERCING, 1041 N. Rampart in French Quarter, 581.9812

theatres New Orleans, LA [504] LE PETIT THEATRE DU VIEUX CARE, 616 St. Peter, 522.2081 MARIGNY THEATRE, 1030 Marigny St., 947.0505

websites CRESCENT CITY, CrescentCity.COM GAY AMERICA, GayAmerica.COM GAY AUSTIN, GayAustin.NET GAY BARS, GayBars.COM GAY PENSACOLA, GayPensacola.COM OFFICIAL GAY EASTER PARADE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayEasterParade.COM OFFICIAL GAY MARDI GRAS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayMardiGras.COM OFFICIAL GAY NEW ORLEANS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayNewOrleans.COM OFFICIAL SOUTHERN DECADENCE, 828A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, SouthernDecadence.COM

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Reac h the Lucr ati ve Gulf South each Lucra tiv Mar ket ...T exas thr u F lorida Mark ...Te thru Florida Contact Publisher/Editor Rip Naquin-Delain

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An open letter to the LGBT community & our allies, from the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club

Miss Cie works the crowd

Robyn Michaels Venus Shante’ Da Vis

Venus works over a “lucky” patron

The Wild Child

HRC event, we kindly ask that you consider investing in an explicitly trans inclusive organization, such as the Transgender Law Center, or any of the 350+ other local, state, and national organizations working toward this end (listed at www.unitedENDA.org).

Many thanks for your time, attention, and continued commitment to diversity and inclusion in our community.

Sincerely, --Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club

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Reac h the Lucr ati ve Gulf South each Lucra tiv Mar ket ...T exas thr u F lorida Mark ...Te thru Florida

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B-Bob’s: The Entertainment Mecca ~ Mobile, Alabama

Anna Rexia

photos: Craig Powell

A

fter much consideration by our board and members, it is with regret that we write this letter announcing our decision to forgo this year’s Human Rights Campaign (HRC) dinner in San Francisco, scheduled for July 16, 2008. We also encourage others in the LGBT community and our allies to forgo HRC’s gala event this year, due to HRC’s ongoing refusal to advocate for federal legislation that protects all Americans from discrimination based on gender identity and expression – as well as sexual orientation.

At the end of the last century, the LGBT community arrived at a consensus: that the full membership of the LGBT community would be honored and embraced, regardless of differences among us, be they based upon race, class, gender, gender identity and expression, or other factors. What was once called a “gay” community in the past, now self-defines, and is known internationally, as the LGBT community. United, the LGBT community works diligently to ensure that all LGBT community members are protected from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression.

It is especially important that our leading civil rights institutions, like HRC, uphold our shared commitment to diversity and inclusion, and lead our movement in a responsible and forward-looking manner.

Unfortunately, last Fall HRC betrayed its own legacy and values, and betrayed the LGBT community, when the organization’s leadership reversed its long-standing commitment to inclusive legislation, suddenly advocating passage of a federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) that, for sake of expediency, deliberately excluded gender identity and expression protections. This cynical move left milhot tails of red stick lions of Americans vulnerable to gender ...from Expose-7 discrimination in employment, and imcomes his way. I like that in a man. plied that, while discrimination based on I hear the Rapides stud is smiling sexual orientation was unacceptable, bias more lately. That’s good too. He really is a and intolerance based on gender identity stud in my book. I wonder if he wants to or expression were negotiable. Even relax on my massage table. Oh, well, that worse, HRC’s leadership made its deciwould be his decision, but I could certainly sion in secret, breaching its collaboration save him bundles of cash over what he is with every other national LGBT organizainto now. Cancel those appointments, tion, including PFLAG, the National Gay sweetie. And get ready for total pleasure and Lesbian Task Force, the National and relaxation. It’s your call.

Center for Lesbian Rights, the Stonewall Cory was the only one at work over at Democrats, the National Center for Splash when I dropped off Ambush last Transgender Equality, the Transgender week. David had gone after food for the two Law Center, and over 350 other national, of them, so I didn’t get my regular hug from state, and local LGBT organizations – this stud. I started to hug Cory, but I didn’t including the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Demowant him to pass out due to the sudden cratic Club. shock of things.

Since that time, HRC has made little Johnny always welcomes me to effort to reverse course on this issue.

Hound Dogs when I’m delivering, and this HRC’s Executive Director, Joe is a really cool guy. You just have to respect Solomonese, now asserts that his prior him because he always has that positive statements about HRC’s unwavering attitude, and I think this is a major reason commitment to inclusion were simply why he is always working his buns off “misstatements”. In fact, even to this day, waiting on customers. People just like the HRC remains uncommitted to introducguy, and I do too. tion of an inclusive employment non-disMichael is usually my greeter over at crimination bill – even though Congress George’s, and I sometimes stay for a beer must introduce an entirely new bill during or two. Last week, Ronnie was there too, its next session in January 2009. so they immediately grabbed their copies As the nation’s oldest LGBT Demoof Ambush to see if they were featured. cratic club, Alice and its members are There is only so much I can do, my dar- deeply committed to inclusion within our lings. I have to spread the wealth around. community, and expect other LGBT orgaYou should know that by now. nizations to uphold this commitment as I am awaiting a call from Gerry now. well. While we have supported HRC in the He is setting up our dinner date with Luther. past and look forward to doing so in the I get excited all over just when I think of this future, in light of the above we cannot in stud. Maybe he’s the one I ought to be good conscience support this year’s HRC putting on my massage table, along with gala fund raiser and, regrettably, feel comthat gorgeous Lance over at Splash. Just pelled to ask our fellow San Franciscans, thinking about all this is really getting to also, to forgo the HRC gala this year – until me. I guess I need to change the subject. such time as HRC reaffirms its commitThat subject change brings me to the ment to inclusion, especially with respect end of this little session with you, but I’ll try to introduction and passage of an incluto round up some scoop to pass on to you sive employment non-discrimination bill. next time. I’ll have to look up Ty and Stephen Particularly at this point in time, it is and see what’s cooking with them, and I’ll important that we support LGBT organizadefinitely pass on the news to you. I really tions working actively, on all of our behalf, like those guys. Maybe I should put both on against non-discrimination and for full my massage table. Now wouldn’t that be equality – and especially those organizaa hoot! tions working for passage of an inclusive I love my job.

ENDA. Instead of attending this year’s

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in the news June 26th Gertrude Stein and a Companion Preview Benefits Breast Cancer

preview. For further information or reservations call 504.948.9608. MasterCard and VISA by calling 504.218.8559.

o Do Productions is happy to announce that its preview of Gertrude Stein and a Companion on June 26th at the Marigny Theatre will be a fund-raiser for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, sponsored by the Crescent City Outlaws. The play written by Will Wells stars Karen Shields as Gertrude and Lisa Davis as Alice B. Toklas and is being directed by Glenn Meche, curtain time is 8pm.

Reservations for the preview only may be made by calling 504.813.7271 or 504.218.8559 or purchased from any Crescent City Outlaws member.

The play continues weekends through July 13th with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and matinees on Sundays at 2pm. There will be a special industry night on Monday, July 7th at 8pm. A portion of all ticket sales from the remainder of the run of the show will also be made as a donation if when reserving you mention the Crescent City Outlaws.

Tickets are $25 each, $15 for seniors and students with ID. No discount on the

NO/AIDS Task Force Holds 14th Annual Dining Out For Life July 17

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n Thursday, July 17, NO/AIDS Task Force is inviting everyone to support a great cause over a great meal for the 14th annual Dining Out For Life fund-raiser.

The Task Force has teamed up with over 30 area restaurants to raise funds to help men, women and families affected by HIV and AIDS. Stand up against HIV and AIDS by sitting down at one of your favorite restaurants. All you have to do is gather your family and friends for a good meal at one of the participating restaurants, and 25% of your check will go to supporting the services that NO/AIDS Task Force provides. Additionally, by making an extra donation the night of the event, you will be entered into a drawing for a night’s stay at the International House Hotel or The W New Orleans - French Quarter.

Participating restaurants include popular hot spots, longtime favorites and casual eateries in neighborhoods from Metairie to the Marigny, North Shore to the West Bank, and everywhere in-between.

There’s long time participants such as Louisiana Pizza Kitchen and La Peniche, and new supporters such as Phil’s Grill and The Country Club. There’s even the opportunity to catch dinner and a show at Minacapelli’s Dinner Playhouse in Slidell which will be participating on Friday, July 18th only.

For More information or the full list of participating restaurants, visit www.noaidsdfl.com or call 504.821.2601 ext 217.

NO/AIDS would like to thank the generous sponsors that make Dining Out For Life possible: Abita Beer, RAIN Organics Vodka, Ambush Magazine, Gambit Weekly, NOLA.com, The Times Picayune, Where Y’AT Magazine, International House Hotel, and W New Orleans – French Quarter.

NO/AIDS Task Force, the oldest HIV/ AIDS service organization in the Gulf South, was founded in 1983 in response to the early devastating effects of the AIDS epidemic in the New Orleans area. Over the past twenty five years the agency has created a continuum of supportive services to assist people affected and infected by HIV. Programs include HIV prevention education, a medical clinic, food pantry and meal delivery services, mental health, HIV testing & counseling, housing and medication assistance, among many others. The mission of NO/AIDS Task Force is “to reduce the spread of HIV infection, provide services, advocate empowerment, safeguard the rights and dignity of HIVaffected individuals, and provide for an enlightened public.” Since its inception, Dining Out For Life has raised over $450,000 to support the efforts of NO/ AIDS Task Force.

New Orleans AIDS Monument Committee Revived to Complete Project

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he vision of building and erecting a monument to commemorate the many lives that have been lost to AIDS in the New Orleans area began in 1996 by a group of community leaders who established the New Orleans AIDS Monument Committee. The monument was actually constructed and is currently unassembled in storage.

Recently, Susan Levingston and Jack Sullivan reestablished a planning group to revive efforts to complete this project.

The monument was designed by glass sculptor, Tim Tate of Washington, D.C. It features a metal structure fabricated by Brian Borello, a native of New Orleans, and sculpted glass faces designed by Mr. Tate. The glass faces were cast in the late 1990’s with the participation of many volunteers and through the assistance of New Orleanian, Mitchell Gaudet of Studio Inferno.

The reestablished New Orleans AIDS Monument committee has an ambitious goal of seeing the monument erected by World AIDS Day of 2008 – but a lot of work still has to be done. The committee is currently working toward securing a site for the New Orleans AIDS Monument in the historic Faubourg Marigny at Washington Square Park. The committee is collaborating with Mark Thomas of the Tulane

School of Architecture, and his students who designed site plans in 2007 as a semester project. Mr. Thomas will continue to coordinate and refine the site plans as needed for the proposed site.

Susan Levingston, Committee Chair explains that “the New Orleans AIDS Monument is being completed to honor, memorialize, and remember those who have lost their fight to HIV or AIDS. The monument site will house memorial stones reflecting the names of those who have died, or stones honoring loved ones. It will also serve as a community awareness and education symbol.”

Final fund-raising efforts are underway to complete the New Orleans AIDS Monument. Additional expenses will include constructing a base, erecting the monument and providing appropriate landscape to the site. In full support of this project, NO/AIDS Task Force will serve as the fiscal agent for the completion of this project. Stones that have been ordered and paid for in the past will be erected at the site. Additional stones are available for purchase for $10 each. Benches with a dedication plaque are also available for an additional purchase price.

Please contact Susan Levingston (504.443.3090) or Jack Sullivan (504.524.1421) if you are interested in any of the New Orleans AIDS Monument activities.

You can also stop by the AIDS Monument Committee’s booth at the upcoming PrideFest in Washington Square Park on June 28th and 29th. There will be a mockup of the proposed site and monument on display and committee members will be there to answer any questions and accept donations.

Flim Flam Films Announces Upcoming Project to be Filmed in New Orleans

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lim Flam Films, which recently wrapped principal photography on National Lampoon’s Dirty Movie, announced its next project – “a comedy for the masses” titled Snatched.

Alan Donnes, who wrote and produced Dirty Movie, will pen the script and will reteam with Jerry Daigle as producer.

Snatched is the story of a man who enters the hospital for surgery but unfortunately becomes the subject of a hilarious mishap. The month-long shoot will begin in April 2009 and will be filmed entirely in the New Orleans area, the birthplace of Flim Flam Films.

“New Orleans is my home, and I wanted to bring this project home,” said Donnes. “Plus, New Orleans offers the best of everything – tax incentives, great talent, and amazing food!”

Flim Flam’s latest outing, National Lampoon’s Dirty Movie, stars Christopher Meloni (Law & Order: SVU), Robert Klein (The Stones) and Mario Cantone (Sex and the City). Fans can expect to see some familiar faces on the Snatched set.

While no names are attached to the film yet, “We are expecting a lot of our friends from Dirty Movie to join us on Snatched,” said Daigle.

Flim Flam Films will produce the movie in association with New Orleansbased Voodoo Pictures. National Lampoon’s Dirty Movie was Daigle’s directorial debut.

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